Recorded RBI impact
Fine: Rs 3.50 L
Monetary penalty · Fresh imposition
Published by RBI
3 Oct 2023
Case Brief
RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹3.50 lakh on The Janata Co-operative Bank Ltd., Godhra, Dist. Panchmahal, Gujarat, by order dated August 31, 2023. The penalty was imposed for non-compliance with RBI directions relating to donations to trusts/institutions where directors or their relatives have an interest, and loans and advances to directors, relatives, and firms/concerns in which they are interested, read with the clarification on directors acting as sureties/guarantors. A statutory inspection revealed that the bank had made a donation to a trust where one of its directors was a trustee and had sanctioned loans in which relatives of directors stood as guarantors. RBI issued a show-cause notice, considered the bank's reply and oral submissions, and concluded that the violations were substantiated under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Why RBI Acted
RBI found, in a statutory inspection with reference to the bank's financial position as on March 31, 2022, that the bank made a donation to a trust where one of its directors was a trustee and sanctioned loans where relatives of directors stood as guarantors. After notice, reply, and oral submissions, RBI concluded that the bank had failed to comply with its directions on related-party donations and loans/advances involving directors and their relatives, warranting a monetary penalty under Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Operating Impact
The bank must absorb the ₹3.50 lakh penalty; the release does not impose any additional operating restriction. The action serves as a regulatory enforcement signal to the bank and underscores continuing compliance obligations around related-party transactions and director-linked lending.
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 3.50 L
- Order Date
- 31 Aug 2023
- Effective From
- 31 Aug 2023
- Entities Affected
- 1
- Entity Role
- Primary
- Entity Type
- Co-operative bank