ICICI-Videocon case: ED conducts searches at residences of Deepak Kochhar's father and brother

The Enforcement Directorate has on March 2, continued the questioning of former ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kocchar and Videocon group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot at their Mumbai office for the second consecutive day.

A source told Moneycontrol, "Enforcement Directorate has conducted searches at a total of nine locations in the last two days."

The agency has also conducted a search of the residences of Deepak Kocchar's brother Rajiv Kochhar and his father. Rajiv Kochhar is the owner of Avista Advisory — A financial services company that has carried out the debt restructuring of companies such as Suzlon, JP Associates and Sterling Biotech. The company has also received loans from ICICI Bank.

The ED also told Moneycontrol that it has confronted Mahesh Punglia, Venugopal Dhoot and Deepak Kochhar in today’s questioning where Punglia admitted to certain issues raised by the agency.

The ED has also been investigating into NU Power's overseas dealings and in particular, its relationship with the Matix group. It may also enhance the scope of the current investigation being carried out on the Videocon group.

Chanda Kochhar arrived at the agency's Mumbai office at 11.30 in the morning while the questioning of Deepak Kochhar and Venugopal Dhoot has been ongoing till the time of publishing this article.

On March 1, the agency carried out their searches at seven places with relation to the case. Venugopal Dhoot was bought to the ED's Mumbai office late evening and was released at midnight. Officials however, continued questioning Chanda Kochhar and Deepak Kochhar till the morning.

The ED first conducted their searches of the residences and offices of Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar and Venugopal Dhoot, Chairman, Videocon Industries with relation to the ICICI Bank-Videocon loan case on the morning of February 28.