In a move to track untraceable borrowers, second largest public sector bank Punjab National Bank (PNB) has invited applications for empanelment of detective agencies. The concerted effort by the bank looks to significantly recover bad loans which surged to Rs 57,519 crore at December end last year.
The decision of the bank came in the back drop of over Rs 13,000 crore fraud involving diamond merchants Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. In its efforts to recover bad loans or non-performing assets (NPAs), the PNB has also resorted to ‘Gandhigiri’ wherein its staff hope to ‘name and shame’ defaulting borrowers to recover up to Rs 150 crore worth bad loans every month.
“PNB on Wednesday invited applications to empanel detective agencies with an aim to significantly supplement efforts of the field officials in recovering bank’s dues in NPA accounts by utilising services of the detective agencies,” the bank said, adding that interested parties have been asked to file applications and relevant documents by May 5.
All NPA accounts (sub-standard, doubtful and loss category would be allocated to detective agencies for gathering information required by the bank. Services of detectives will be hired to locate the borrower(s)/co-borrower(s)/ guarantor(s)/ mortgagor(s), (in/outside India) including their legal heirs who are either untraceable or not available at the addresses given in bank’s records.
The selected agencies will have to ascertain latest information about defaulters present address, occupation, business, income streams, details of their all assets, among other things. They will also have to find out details of bank accounts maintained by the defaulting borrower/guarantor, including their legal heirs.
Agencies will be given a maximum 60 days for submission of report, which may be extended to 90 days in emergent circumstances keeping in view complexity of the case.