Seven years after launching an investigation against NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) closed the case on Tuesday. The agency cited a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with the probe. Sources familiar with the development confirmed that the CBI “didn’t find any legally tenable evidence” suggesting that NDTV and its then-promoters caused a loss to ICICI Bank in the settlement of a loan taken in 2009.
Details of the Investigation
The CBI filed its first information report (FIR) in June 2017, naming the Roys and RRPR Holding Pvt Ltd, a private company linked to NDTV. They faced charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and misconduct under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR arose from a complaint by Sanjay Dutt of Delhi-based Quantum Securities Ltd.
Dutt alleged that RRPR Holdings took a ₹500-crore loan from India Bulls to acquire a 20% stake in NDTV through a public open offer. The FIR claimed RRPR Holdings also secured a ₹375 crore loan from ICICI Bank, pledging their shareholding as collateral. The agency claimed that ICICI settled for foreclosure of the loan, agreeing to a part-waiver of interest that allegedly resulted in a loss of ₹48 crores for the bank.
Ongoing Investigations and Allegations
The complaint accused ICICI Bank of “conniving and committing fraud” with NDTV’s promoters. It also raised concerns about the true ownership of NDTV and the bank’s role in a clandestine change of control. In addition to this case, the CBI is investigating the Roys for allegedly violating foreign direct investment (FDI) rules from 2007 to 2009. This investigation concerns an NDTV subsidiary in London that received USD 163.43 million in FDI.
In December 2022, the Adani Group became the largest shareholder in NDTV through an open offer.
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