Click to play videoAs the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Delhi fines ICICI bank for harassing a customer, CNN-IBN unearths a huge car loan recovery racket run in Goa by ICICI bank officials.
CNN-IBN Correspondent Ruksh Chatterji takes us behind the scenes to find out just how a car is recovered.
Margao (Goa): As one walks along the streets of any major city in Goa the one thing that stands out is the number of shiny new cars. But not everything is nice and bright about the transport scene in Goa.
That’s because most of these cars are financed and if a loan goes bad, banks prefer to use strong arm tactics rather than going to the courts.
That's where men like Johnny D'Cruz, former ICICI car recovery agent (name changed) come in. So how does Johnny recover cars?
Johnny D'Cruz: We had four lungi fellows from Karnataka. They would do the needful.
CNN-IBN: But would they resort to violence?
Johnny D'Cruz: Yes. We had to resort to violence at times.
CNN-IBN: Like what?
Johnny D'Cruz: We would slap them or kick them.
And how would the recovery gangs prevent a case from being filed in the police station?
Johnny D'Cruz: The police would be paid Rs 20,000.
CNN-IBN: This would be paid to the local police?
Johnny D'Cruz: It would be paid to their head brass.
That's just what happened to Jowett D'Souza, a resident of Goa, when his car was forcefully taken from him.
“The PSI was reluctant to file my complaint,” says Jowett.
Sub Inspector Jivba Dalvi, who had reportedly refused to take Jowett's complaint, was allegedly part of the recovery racket.
CNN-IBN went undercover to strike a deal with him to recover some money from a car sale gone bad but our hidden camera was discovered.
CNN-IBN: I do not know how much was paid. About two and a half ...
Jivba Dalvi: What is that in your hand?
CNN-IBN: Oh this is my pouch. It’s nothing.
However, it’s not us but the officer who is begging for mercy.
Jivba Dalvi: I just request you to keep me out of it. Please, I’m scared. You can check my purse.
The reason for his fear is a bunglow worth Rs50 lakh that PSI Dalvi has managed to accumulate in just a few years of service.
It's this fall from grace of the men in khaki that has emboldened racketeers and they operate freely.
Johnny D'Cruz: We would inform the police that we are going to seize a car and if that car was not there, we seek their help to locate it.
CNN-IBN: How would the money be paid to the PI or PSI?
Johnny D'Cruz: That would go under hand we would not know about it.
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