Court asks RBI to review telemarketing being used by pvt banks

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has suggested the Reserve Bank of India review the telemarketing being used as a marketing tool by the banking sector as cases of gullible consumers being cheated through impersonation have come to light.

"This is high time that steps need to be taken to review whether telemarketing is a healthy or indispensable marketing tool for banking sector in view of its ill-effects," Additional Sessions Judge Surinder S Rathi said.

The court said the banking sector in general and RBI in particular cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of "helpless victims who are duped by unrepentant cheats."

"The unscrupulous elements of our society have got an opportunity to cheat innocent citizens in this manner perhaps because of new fad of telemarketing being taken up by many private banks and lending institutions," the court said.

It is not only difficult but rather impossible for a common citizen to differentiate between an actual bank employee and an impersonator, it added.

The court's observations came while dismissing a bail application of Imran Khan who was alleged to have duped complainant Gaurav Tyagi of Rs 1.09 lakh in the name of providing him pre-approved loan of Rs 8.5 lakh by ICICI Bank Ltd.