Hitesh Mehta Faces Polygraph Test Amid Ongoing Bank Fraud Investigation

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police plans to conduct a polygraph test on Hitesh Mehta, the former general manager of New India Co-operative Bank. Mehta was arrested in connection with a Rs 122-crore embezzlement case. The test will take place at the state-run Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina, as confirmed by officials.

Mehta, who previously held the position of general manager and head of accounts at the bank, was detained last month. He is considered the main suspect in the alleged misappropriation of Rs 122 crore over five years. A court in Mumbai has authorised the EOW to carry out forensic psychological tests on Mehta as part of their ongoing investigation.

Embezzlement Case Details

The EOW has so far apprehended four individuals, with four more named as wanted suspects. Among those wanted are the bank's former chairman, Hiren Bhanu, and his wife, ex-vice-chairperson Gauri Bhanu. They reportedly left the country just before the fraud was uncovered, according to police sources.

Devarshi Ghosh, acting CEO of the bank, filed a complaint against Mehta and others at Dadar police station last month. The complaint accused them of conspiring to embezzle funds from the bank's Prabhadevi and Goregaon branches in Mumbai. Following this complaint, the case was transferred to the EOW for further investigation.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

The charges against Mehta and his associates include criminal breach of trust by public servants and bankers under section 316(5), along with criminal conspiracy under section 612 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These charges reflect the severity of the alleged financial misconduct within the bank.

The polygraph test is part of a broader investigative effort to uncover more details about the embezzlement scheme. Officials hope that this test will provide additional insights into Mehta's involvement and potentially lead to further arrests or revelations in this high-profile case.

This investigation highlights significant concerns about financial oversight within cooperative banks. It underscores the need for stringent measures to prevent such large-scale frauds from occurring in financial institutions.