PNB Reports ₹2,434 Crore SREI Fraud to RBI, Highlighting Ongoing Challenges in Indian Banking Sector
Published: 2025-12-26 20:12 IST | Category: General News | Author: Abhi
New Delhi, India – December 26, 2025 – Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of India's leading public sector banks, has reported a substantial borrowal fraud amounting to ₹2,434 crore to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The fraud is attributed to the erstwhile promoters of SREI Equipment Finance Limited (SEFL) and SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited (SIFL), according to a regulatory filing made on Friday.
The total reported fraud comprises ₹1,240.94 crore related to SREI Equipment Finance and ₹1,193.06 crore linked to SREI Infrastructure Finance. In a move to ring-fence its financials, PNB has confirmed that it has made 100% provisions for the entire outstanding amount involved in this fraud. This ensures that the immediate financial burden from these non-performing assets is absorbed, reflecting a cautious approach by the state-owned lender.
The SREI Saga: A Troubled History
The SREI group, a prominent name in infrastructure financing, has been under intense scrutiny for several years. The RBI had superseded the boards of SREI Infrastructure Finance and its wholly-owned subsidiary, SREI Equipment Finance, in October 2021, citing deteriorating financial conditions and significant governance concerns. This action initiated the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) against both entities.
Auditors have previously unearthed widespread irregularities within the SREI group. As of November 2022, the auditor for SREI Equipment Finance had identified fraudulent transactions totaling over ₹13,110 crore. Earlier reports in June 2022 also flagged fraudulent transactions amounting to more than ₹3,025 crore for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021. These findings highlight a pattern of financial misconduct that predates the current PNB revelation.
Insolvency and Legal Battles
The insolvency resolution process for the SREI group has been complex and protracted. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had extended the deadline for completing the CIRP for SREI Infrastructure Finance until January 5, 2023. Subsequently, the resolution plan put forth by the National Asset Reconstruction Co. Ltd. (NARCL) for both SREI Equipment Finance and SREI Infrastructure Finance received NCLT approval in August 2023. PNB's recent reporting of fraud comes even after the formal resolution of these companies under NCLT.
The legal ramifications of the SREI financial crisis continue to unfold. In March 2025, the Supreme Court of India sought the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) stance on a plea for a comprehensive probe into the alleged financial fraud by the Kolkata-based SREI Group. The petition alleged that the group engaged in round-tripping of funds through a private trust and siphoning of public money borrowed from various banks, with the total amount involved running into "several thousand crores." The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the gravity and systemic impact of these alleged frauds on the Indian financial system.
Impact on Indian Banking
This latest fraud reported by PNB, while distinct from the infamous Nirav Modi scam of 2018, reiterates the vulnerabilities that can exist within public sector banks. Such incidents raise critical questions about:
- Corporate Governance: The ability of promoters to allegedly orchestrate large-scale frauds despite regulatory oversight.
- Loan Monitoring Mechanisms: The effectiveness of banks' internal systems in detecting and preventing such borrowal frauds.
- Regulatory Vigilance: The continuous need for the RBI and other regulatory bodies to strengthen frameworks and enforcement.
While PNB's 100% provisioning demonstrates a strong balance sheet management approach, recurring fraud reports can erode public trust and investor confidence in public sector banks. The Indian government and regulatory bodies have been actively working to reform the banking sector and improve asset quality. However, incidents like the SREI fraud serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in ensuring financial integrity and stability in India's dynamic economic landscape. The broader implications include potential impacts on credit flow to the infrastructure sector and continued pressure on banks to enhance their risk management and fraud detection capabilities.