The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed, by an order dated August 31, 2023, a monetary penalty of ₹6.00 Lakh (Rupees Six Lakh only) on The Sarvodaya Sahakari Bank Limited, Modasa, Gujarat (the bank) for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, relatives and firms /concerns in which they are interested’ read with ‘Loans and advances to directors etc - directors as surety/guarantors - Clarification’, ‘Placement of Deposits with Other Banks by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’ and ‘Interest Rate on Deposits - Directions 2016’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 47 A (1) (c) read with Sections 46 (4) (i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

Background

The statutory inspection of the bank conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022, and examination of the Inspection Report, Risk Assessment Report and all correspondence related thereto revealed, inter alia, that the bank had (i) sanctioned credit facilities to relative of one of its directors and also wherein relatives of the directors stood as guarantor (ii) breached inter-bank gross exposure limit, (iii) breached inter-bank counterparty exposure limit, and (iv) not paid interest on matured fixed deposits from the date of maturity till the date of its repayment at the rate applicable to saving deposits or the contracted rate of interest, whichever is lower. In furtherance to the same, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the directions, as stated therein.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI came to the conclusion that the aforesaid charge of non-compliance with the RBI directions was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2023-2024/1032