Recorded RBI impact
Fine: Rs 5.00 L
Monetary penalty · Fresh imposition
Published by RBI
14 Dec 2023
Case Brief
By order dated November 17, 2023, RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5.00 lakh on Indapur Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra. The penalty was for non-compliance with RBI directions on investments by primary (urban) co-operative banks, maintenance of deposit accounts, and income recognition, asset classification, provisioning and other related matters. RBI said its inspection found breaches including non-adherence to prudential inter-bank gross exposure limits, fixed penal charges for shortfall in minimum balance in savings accounts instead of proportionate charges, and failure to classify certain accounts as NPAs. The penalty was imposed under the Banking Regulation Act after considering the bank's reply and oral submissions.
Why RBI Acted
RBI imposed a monetary penalty under section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, after a statutory inspection (reference date March 31, 2022) and review of the Risk Assessment Report and related correspondence found that the bank had not adhered to the prudential inter-bank gross exposure limit, had levied fixed penal charges for shortfall in minimum balance instead of charges proportionate to the shortfall, and had not classified certain accounts as non-performing assets (NPA). The bank's reply and oral submissions were considered, but RBI concluded the contraventions were substantiated and warranted penalty.
Operating Impact
The bank must absorb the monetary penalty and tighten compliance with RBI directions on investments, deposit-account charges, and NPA classification. No operating restriction was imposed, but the action signals heightened supervisory scrutiny and the need to correct control and reporting weaknesses.
Regulatory Basis
- section 47 A (1) (c) read with sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
Action Facts
- Primary Impact
- Fine: Rs 5.00 L
- Order Date
- 17 Nov 2023
- Effective From
- 17 Nov 2023
- Entities Affected
- 1
- Entity Role
- Primary
- Entity Type
- Co-operative bank