PF Scam probe: notice issued against Hiranandanis

The Central Bureau of Investigation (Anti-Corruption Branch) has issued a lookout notice against builder Niranjan Hiranandani and his brother Surendra for failing to appear before the agency in connection with the investigations into provident fund scam.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (Anti-Corruption Branch) has issued a lookout notice against builder Niranjan Hiranandani and his brother Surendra for failing to appear before the agency in connection with the investigations into provident fund scam.

HT Image

CBI has instructed all immigration points to inform CBI, ACB, Mumbai in case Niranjan and Surendra try to move out of the country.

The CBI, on Tuesday, said it had been calling both Niranjan and Surendra for investigation for the last 15 days but "both of them avoided the investigation and did not turn up before the investigating officer".

The CBI had also told the family members of the duo but they also did not inform about their whereabouts. CBI said the case is in active investigation to record the statements of all those named in the FIR as the accused and witnesses.

The ACB had registered the case on March 29, 2008.

It was alleged in FIR that K. S. Arya, the then Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I, Bandra, Mumbai, Niranjan and Surendra, both directors of Hiranandani Properties and eight others cheated the Employees Provident Fund Department of about Rs 168 crore by not paying the PF dues of workers employed through contractors in various projects.

The CBI said Niranjan and Surendra entered into a conspiracy with some EPF officials and closed the matter illegally by depositing only Rs 2.92 lakh as PF dues.