The Enforcement Directorate has questioned senior Paytm executives and taken submission of documents from them following the recent RBI action of barring Paytm Payments Bank Ltd from accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer account, official sources said Thursday.

The central agency, according to the sources, is conducting preliminary examination of documents before it decides to launch a formal investigation into the RBI-flagged alleged irregularities at the fintech company under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Some documents have been recently submitted by Paytm executives following which they were asked certain questions. Some more information has been sought, the sources said.

As of now, no irregularities have been detected and a case under FEMA will only be registered once any contravention under the said law is found, they added.

An investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) involving Paytm is already going on for some time, they said.

One97 Communications, which provides financial services under the Paytm brand, and its banking arm Paytm Payments Bank have been receiving notices and requests for information with respect to customers of the respective entities, an exchange filing by the company said on Wednesday.

Paytm said its associate Paytm Payments Bank Limited does not undertake outward foreign remittances.

"One 97 Communications Limited (OCL), its subsidiaries and its associate, Paytm Payments Bank Limited, have over time been receiving notices and requisition for information, documents and explanations from the authorities, including Enforcement Directorate (ED), with respect to the customers that may have done business with the respective entities, and provided the required information, documents and explanations to the authorities," Paytm said in a regulatory filing.

Source : https://www.dailypioneer.com/2024/business/ed-questions-paytm-executives--gets-documents-on-latest-rbi-action.html