Data on Wilful Corporate Loan Defaulters, Rs.162961 crore classified as Wilful Default

As per data on wilful defaulters (excluding overseas borrowers) reported by Public Sector Banks in Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC), as on 31.03.2025, 1629 unique borrowers, having an aggregate loan outstanding of Rs. 1,62,961 crore were classified as wilful defaulters.

RBI, vide Master Direction on Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters, has advised lenders to submit the list of wilful defaulters to all Credit Information Companies (CICs) on a monthly basis, and CICs are required to display the same on their respective websites. The details of wilful defaulters of Rs. 25 lakhs and above is available in the public domain and can be accessed at the following URL of credit information companies, registered with and regulated by RBI:

(i) suit.cibil.com
(ii) suit.experian.in
(iii) equifax.co.in
(iv) Crifhighmark.com

Further, comprehensive measures have been taken to deter wilful default and to recover NPAs, including those pertaining to wilful defaulters. Such measures include, inter alia, the following:

Wilful defaulters are not sanctioned any additional facilities by banks or financial institutions, and their unit is debarred from floating new ventures for five years. Further, wilful defaulters and companies with wilful defaulters as promoters/directors have been debarred from accessing capital markets to raise funds.

The bar on additional credit facility to a wilful defaulter or any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated shall be effective for a period of one (1) year after the name of wilful defaulter has been removed from the List of Wilful Defaulters (LWD) by the lender.

Wilful defaulters or any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated shall not be eligible for restructuring of credit facility. Subsequent to removal of the name of wilful defaulter from the LWD, the wilful defaulter or any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated shall be eligible for restructuring, subject to the provision contained at (ii) above.

As per RBI’s Master Direction on Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters, banks may initiate criminal proceedings against wilful defaulters in eligible cases.

For effective action against fugitive offenders, including wilful defaulters, the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 has been enacted which provides for attachment and confiscation of property of fugitive offenders and has disentitled them from defending any civil claim.

As per RBI Master Directions on Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters dated 30.7.2024, cases of wilful defaults at overseas branches of banks incorporated in India shall be reported to Credit Information Companies, if such disclosure is not prohibited under the laws of the host country.

Further, as per the information received from Directorate of Enforcement, nine (09) accused who fled the country have been declared as Fugitive Economic Offender under the provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA). In these cases, as on date, assets amounting to Rs. 15,298.27 crore (approx.) have been confiscated under PMLA and assets amounting to Rs. 749.87 crore (approx.) have been confiscated under FEOA.

Further, 09 accused have been convicted in these cases under the provisions of PMLA. Moreover, assets amounting to Rs. 25,806.38 crore (approx.) have been restituted in bank fraud cases to the victim banks/ legitimate claimants under PMLA which includes amount confiscated as well as the attached amount restituted during the trial before confiscation.