PMC crisis: Farhan Akhtar expresses disappointment in a cryptic tweet, wants culprits to 'rot in jail'

NEW DELHI: The recent Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank scam that left traders and farmers reeling from a financial crisis has caught actor Farhan Akhtar's attention.

In a cryptic tweet posted on Thursday, the Bollywood actor, who was last seen in 'The Sky Is Pink' with Priyanka Chopra, expressed disappointment at the 'twisted law' that lets 'thieves roam free', and hardworking people suffer.

While he didn't mention the name of the bank, Twitterati seemed sure that he was kind of hinting at the ongoing PMC crisis. "The people deserve their money back now, and the culprits deserve to rot in jail, forever," he added.


On September 26, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) put restrictions on PMC after its Rs 4,355 crore-scam came to the fore. India's central bank capped its deposit withdrawals at Rs 40,000 over a six-month period, causing panic and distress among depositors. The bank used more than 21,000 fictitious accounts to hide loans it made, according to a police complaint lodged by officials.

In the last four days, four people have lost their lives due to the stress resulting from the financial embargo. While three account holders have died of heart attack, another committed suicide.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea filed on behalf of the scam-hit bank's account holders seeking lifting of restrictions imposed by the RBI on cash withdrawals.


A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, said, "We are not inclined to entertain this petition under article 32 (writ jurisdiction). Petitioner can approach the high court concerned for appropriate relief".

Meanwhile, Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) promoters Rakesh and Sarang Wadhawan, who were arrested on October 3, have written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai Police and the RBI to sell 19 of their assets at fair market rates to repay the loans taken by the company.

The ED had seized, and identified movable and immovable assets worth more than Rs 3,830 crores owned by HDIL, its directors/promoters, PMC Bank officials and others related entities in the case.