Second I-T notice to Deepak Kochhar

Investigators on Thursday widened their probe into the ~32.50-billion ICICI BankVideocon loan case with the income tax department issuing a second notice to Deepak Kochhar, husband of ICICI Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Chanda Kochhar. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation quizzed NuPower Renewables Director Umanath Vaikunt Nayak, and Mahesh Chandra Punglia, considered a close aide of Videocon founder Venugopal Dhoot.

Investigators on Thursday widened their probe into the ~32.50 billion ICICI Bank-Videocon loan case with the Income Tax Department issuing a second notice to Deepak Kochhar, husband of ICICI bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar, and the CBI questioning a director of his firm and a close aide of businessman Venugopal Dhoot.

Sources in the tax department said Kochhar was issued a fresh notice as it received a "part reply" from him in connection with its tax evasion probe with links to the Videocon bank loan case.

An authorised representative of Kochhar, they said, however, submitted official documents and statements to the department two days ago, in reply to a notice first issued to him early this month. Meanwhile, the CBI quizzed Umanath Vaikunt Nayak, a director in the NuPower Renewables which was founded Kochhar, and Mahesh Chandra Punglia, considered a close aide of Videocon founder Venugopal Dhoot at its headquarters in New Delhi.

The I-T sources said as the replies given to it were not "complete" and lacked full information, Kochhar has been asked to submit the rest of the details by this week, including the flow of about ~3.25 billion from two Mauritius-based firms to his company NuPower Renewables Private Ltd.

They said the authorities who appeared in response to the I-T notice have assured cooperation. The two foreignbased firms have been identified as First Land Holding Limited and DH Renewables Holding Limited. The department, they said, has also sought the share valuation report for investment in NuPower Renewables apart from copy of balance sheets and profits.