Better to fake death than go on the run.

The Finance Minister expressed concern that gross Non Performing Assets in Public Sector banks have risen to 4.03% in 2013-14 from 3.42% in 2012-13 and 2.94% in 2011-12. " NPAs have increased as the economy of the country has slowed down in the last two years," he said. That maybe true but a major reason is that loans are deliberately given to those who have a history of defaulting on previous loans or are related to politicians and so have no intention of repaying borrowed money. Since public sector banks are controlled by the Finance Ministry politicians ensure that whoever is appointed chairman will do their bidding. The Chairman of Syndicate Bank, SK Jain has been arrested by the CBI for accepting a bribe of Rs 5 million to advance loans to Bhushan Steel Ltd. That sounds too little for a man in his position so now we learn that he also accepted a bribe of Rs 35 million from Prakash Industries Ltd. CBI is hoping to find more. If you are inclined to take bribes make it big so that you can enjoy the proceeds when you come out of jail. Bribes are no big deal in India but what makes this case interesting is that Mr Jain has 2 brothers-in-law named Vineet Godha and Puneet Godha. Mr Vineet is a lawyer who was Congress spokesman and in-charge of its legal cell. He has apparently defended many Congress leaders in court. But he is so broad minded that he is also close to Sudhir Sharma, former in-charge of the education cell of the BJP, who is in prison for his part in the MPPEB scam. Brother Puneet is one of the main real-estate developers in Bhopal. Although not connected, we know that the bulk of black money in India is in real estate. In 2007 both brothers were questioned in connection with the shooting of one Pawan Jain and his driver but were released. Every good story has some humor. On 5 August CBI sleuths raided the house of Neeraj Singhal, Vice Chairman of Bhushan Steel with specific instructions to arrest him. Mr Singhal was present when CBI officers arrived but they returned empty handed. We do not know whether tea and sweets were served but a notice under Section 160 has been served on Mr Singhal asking him to appear before officers after 4 days. Enough time for Mr Singhal to pack a suitcase, book his ticket and go on the run. We remember how the CBI ran after Mr Quattrocchi but always failed to get him. Meanwhile a woman in Jaipur got a Municipal Councillor, Rajesh Singhvi to certify her death so that she did not have to repay a loan of Rs 400,000. Sadly her husband ratted on her, the cad. Will the CBI arrest a dead woman, even if she is alive? Better to serve Section 160.