Mumbai, June 11: Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation booked absconding diamantaire Jatin Mehta in two fresh cases pertaining to an alleged loan fraud of over Rs 587.55 crore, the probing agency registered three more FIRs against him on Tuesday in connection with over Rs. 700 crore bank fraud case. In total, CBI has registered nine FIRs against Jatin Mehta and nine others, while probing bank fraud worth Rs 2,100 crore.

In the latest development, the central probing agency conducted searches at the premises of Jatin Mehta in Mumbai, one of the directors of Forever Precious Jewellery and Diamonds Ltd in Ahmedabad and Mumbai on Tuesday. Along with this, the premises of Ramesh Parekh, the whole time director, were also searched by CBI. IMA Jewels Scam: Absconding Owner Mohammed Mansoor Khan's Viral Audio Clip Leaves Investors In Lurch

According to the case, the CBI initiated the registration of case after receiving complaints from Bank of Maharashtra and Union Bank of India, said officials. Mehta allegedly cheated Bank of Maharashtra to the tune of Rs 323.40 crore, while Union Bank of India suffered a loss of Rs 264.15 crore due to him, reports PTI. Based on the complaints, the CBI has earlier registered two separate FIRs against Mehta and his company, Winsome Diamonds and Jewellery.

Among the people booked by the CBI - on the basis of the complaint from Bank of Maharashtra - include promoter Mehta, whole time directors Ramesh I Parikh and Ravichandran Ramasamy, independent director Harish Ratilal Mehta and Jordanian national Hathyam Salman Ali Abu Obeidah. While after Union Bank of India's complaint, CBI had named Mehta, his company, Bombay Diamonds Company Pvt Ltd and Obdiedah as accused.

As per the case, both the banks were part of a 14-bank consortium that had extended credit facilities worth over Rs 4,600 crore to Winsome Diamonds for which original promoter and guarantor was Mehta. Before leaving the country in April, 2011, Mehta stepped down from the position of managing director of the company and became the non-executive director for strategic and policy decisions of the company. Sources believe that currently he is in one of the Caribbean islands, St Kitts, said CBI sources.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2019 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).