Bollywood actress Preity Zinta is embroiled into a bank loan controversy. Allegations have been made against her that she has taken Rs.18 crore loan from New India Cooperative Bank and the loan has now been written off by the Bank.
She has strongly denied allegations that an ₹18 crore loan in her name was written off by New India Cooperative Bank Ltd. Dismissing the claims as completely false, she issued a detailed statement clarifying that she had repaid the full loan more than a decade ago.
How the Controversy Started
The issue came to light after a report exposed financial irregularities and alleged corruption within New India Cooperative Bank. The report claimed that corporate loans of up to ₹25 crore were sanctioned without informing branch managers, raising serious concerns about internal financial mismanagement.
Many of these loans reportedly turned into non-performing assets (NPAs) within a year due to mismanagement and fund diversion, leading to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) taking strict action against the bank.
One of the most high-profile cases mentioned in the report was an alleged ₹18 crore loan write-off for Preity Zinta. According to the report, the loan was cleared without following proper recovery procedures, triggering speculation about the actress’s involvement.
Preity Zinta’s Response
The Kerala unit of Congress raised allegations against her on social media platform X. The Kerala unit of Congress said that She sold her social media account to BJP and Rs.18 crore loan was written off.
Reacting to these allegations, Preity Zinta released a statement through her legal team. She clarified,
“More than 12 years ago, I had an overdraft facility with New India Cooperative Bank. More than 10 years ago, I repaid in full the entire dues in respect of this overdraft facility, and the account stands closed.”
The actress also took to social media to refute the claims. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote,
“No, I operate my social media accounts myself, and shame on you for promoting FAKE NEWS! No one wrote off anything or any loan for me. I’m shocked that a political party or their representative is promoting fake news & indulging in vile gossip & clickbaits using my name & images. For the record, a loan was taken and FULLY PAID BACK – over 10 years ago. Hope this clarifies and helps so there are no misunderstandings in the future.”
Bank’s Internal Issues and RBI’s Actions
The report also revealed that in 2019, over 80 senior staff members at New India Cooperative Bank were allegedly forced to resign, raising concerns about the bank’s internal operations. Employees reportedly approached the RBI, demanding a forensic audit, the dissolution of the bank’s board, and the recovery of financial losses from those responsible.
