The Hindu Business Line : ICICI Bank seeks thorough probe into ‘erroneous’ SMS

Mumbai, Oct. 13 ICICI Bank has sought a detailed investigation into messages posted on some Internet blogs and Web sites, which it said had circulated false rumours and wrong information about the financial status of the bank.

This is in addition to the bank’s complaint about a broker/sub-broker of a major securities firm. The Mumbai-based securities broker had allegedly been the origin of various SMS messages which, the bank said, had created panic among the depositors of ICICI Bank.

In the complaint filed with the Additional Commissioner of Police of the economic offences wing of the Mumbai police, the bank asked for investigation by a well-equipped investigating agency, like the economic offences wing or the cyber cell or the crime branch, to reveal details of the accused involved and their intentions.

The bank itself has identified in its complaint a mass/group SMS-sending Web site. The complaint has also provided Internet links to messages on Web sites that it said had harmed its reputation.

Some of the messages on the Web sites may have originated from lay investors or brokers or sub-brokers, or bear cartels operating in the market, said the bank’s complaint.

Or it could be person/s who have ulterior and mala fide motives with the calculated intention of undermining the confidence of the general public in the bank, the Indian banking and financial system and the Indian stock markets, it said.

The messages spread through various channels of communication also amount to defamation under the Indian Penal code, the bank has said.

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