idfc first bank share — IN news

What Happened

IDFC First Bank shares experienced a significant decline on Monday, closing 16% lower at Rs 70.09. This drop marks the worst single-day fall for the bank since March 2020. The decline was triggered by the bank’s disclosure of a Rs 590-crore fraud at its Chandigarh branch, involving unauthorized transactions linked to accounts associated with the Haryana government.

Why It Matters

The fraud incident has led to the suspension of four bank officials and the initiation of a forensic audit. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stated that the incident does not pose a systemic risk to the banking sector. However, the sharp decline in share price reflects investor concerns regarding the bank’s internal controls and governance.

What’s Next

IDFC First Bank is taking steps to address the situation by filing complaints with law enforcement and appointing an independent external agency for a detailed forensic audit. The bank has also communicated with beneficiary banks to flag suspicious accounts and is pursuing disciplinary actions against those involved.