PMC Bank Scam: Around 1,950 Skihs Pilgrims From Maharashtra Unable To Go To Kartarpur

TPI Staff November 11, 2019

0 454 1 minute read

Mumbai: According to media reports, around 1,950 Sikhs from Maharashtra have not been able to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan following the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, due to a scam in the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank, a senior community leader claimed.

Around 2,000 Sikhs from Mumbai, Nashik, Nanded, Navi Mumbai and Thane, most of whom have accounts at PMC Bank, wanted to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib as part of a visit organized by Hardev Singh Saini, the local body Nirma Seva Jatha,” PTI quoted Hardev Singh Saini, member of a gurudwara committee in Kurla saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor and flagged off the first batch of over 500 Indian pilgrims.

PMC Bank has been placed under sanctions by the RBI since September after the alleged Rs 4,355 crore scam surfaced, after which deposit withdrawals were initially capped at Rs 1,000, causing panic and distress among depositors. Withdrawal limit has been increased to Rs 50,000.

“We were in the process of submitting their details online on the required website, but due to the sudden PMC bank crisis, many people opted for it. Only about 50 could finally manage to go. All others dropped out due to lack of money because of the PMC Bank scam,” he claimed.

Ravindra Kaur Saini, who has three accounts at PMC Bank, said she was disappointed not to be part of the historic pilgrimage.

“We have been waiting for this historic moment for many years, but unfortunately we did not get a chance to go because of the PMC crisis. I have three accounts at PMC Bank, but had no money to go,” he said.

The crisis at the bank is attributed to loans made to realty player Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), which were allegedly hidden by regulators’ investigations, turning over non-performing assets.

(With PTI Inputs)

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.