Rs 5,300-cr Guj scam: CBI seeks info on Sandesara

New Delhi, September 25

The CBI has asked the Interpol wing of Nigeria to confirm if absconding promoter of Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech, Nitin Sandesara, being probed in a Rs 5,300 crore banking fraud case, has moved in that country, officials said today.

The move came after reports that Sandesara along with his family members, also accused in the scam, have fled from the UAE to Nigeria with which India does not have any extradition treaty.

The agency has said it has no input on the whereabouts of Sandersara and his family members.

Following the reports, the agency has approached the Nigerian Interpol authorities to find out details of Sandesara and his family members.

Last October, the agency booked Sterling Biotech, its directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, chartered accountant Hemant Hathi, former director of Andhra Bank Anup Garg and other unidentified persons.

The CBI has alleged that the company had taken loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which have turned into non-performing assets.

The FIR has alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on December 31, 2016. — PTI