CAG Audit Finds Half Of IFCI Loans In Violation Of Norms
CAG wants IFCI to strengthen its credit approval mechanism.
Government auditor Comptroller and Auditor General on Friday made a strong case for strengthening credit appraisal mechanism by state-owned IFCI, observing that over 50 percent loans audited by it were not as per the general lending policy.
Citing specific examples, the CAG in a report tabled in Parliament, said large amounts of loans were sanctioned to several companies in violation of laws. Referring to a loan issued to Bhushan Steel, the CAG said the amount was sanctioned in violation of the extant general lending policy.
In view of substantial increase in its debt burden as well as huge losses during 2014-15 and 2015-16, the chances of recovery of Rs 402.54 crore are doubtful.CAG Report
In case of the Rs 500-crore loan sanctioned by IFCI to Reliance Infrastructure Ltd., the CAG said, "Due diligence was not exercised in accepting an unenforceable security resulting in non-creation of mortgage till date."
The report also mentions certain loans of IFCI to Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd., Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd., and Pipavav Marine and Offshore Ltd..
The general lending policy (GLP) of the company, the report said, specifically prohibits the sanction of loan to the borrower whose promoter or whole-time directors are appearing in the 'wilful defaulters' list of Credit Information Bureau of India Ltd. (CIBIL).
"However, it was noticed that in three cases (two percent of the sample cases), the company had sanctioned the loans to the borrowers whose promoters/directors were appearing in the wilful defaulters list," the report said.
CAG reviewed 128 sanctioned loans and observed that in respect of 69 cases (54 percent), the loans were sanctioned in deviation from the eligibility criteria stipulated in the GLP. The auditor has suggested that the credit appraisal mechanism at the IFCI requires to be strengthened.
Further, "the company should strictly comply with the RBI guidelines applicable to Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Companies," the report said.
IFCI, formerly known as Industrial Finance Corporation of India, is a systemically important non-deposit taking non-banking financial company.
The CAG had taken up the Performance Audit on Credit Risk Management in IFCI up primarily due to its predominantly higher non performing asset ratio of 13.05 percent as compared to the industry's NPA ratio of 3 percent, and also in view of increase in unrealised interest to the tune of Rs 40638.98 crore from 2012-13 to 2015-16. CAG’s audit covered a period of four years from 2012-13 to 2015-16 in respect of loans sanctioned and disbursed.