MUMBAI, March 8 -- A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Saturday took cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the agency in connection with an alleged Rs.87.46-crore fraud against Punjab National Bank (PNB) involving Siddhi Vinayak Logistics Ltd, its directors and others. The court issued summons to 16 accused, including company executives and bank officials. Special judge Dr J P Darekar observed, "There is oral as well as documentary evidence collected by the investigating officer. There is sufficient material to substantiate the allegations against the accused persons." The court further held that the prosecution's case was "well founded". Therefore the court directed that summons be issued to the accused to appear before the court. Those summoned include Siddhi Vinayak Logistics Ltd, its managing director and guarantor Roopchand Sujanmal Baid, and directors Deepak Kumar Baid, Raj Kumar Baid and Laxmi Devi Baid. The court also issued summons to individuals associated with linked entities such as Addplus Distributors Pvt Ltd and Transport Solutions India Pvt Ltd. Three PNB officials have also been summoned to face prosecution for offences under the anti-corruption law in addition to IPC offences. According to the charge sheet, the CBI registered the case on December 20, 2022, based on a complaint dated March 31, 2021, lodged by an assistant general manager of PNB's Zonal Sastra Centre in Mumbai. The agency alleged that between 2013 and 2017, the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to cheat the bank by obtaining a Rs.100-crore term loan purportedly for the purchase of 335 commercial vehicles, including truck chassis and trailers. Investigators alleged that the borrower company furnished details of only 240 vehicles and failed to provide documentation for the rest. The probe also found discrepancies in vehicles offered as collateral security. Investigators alleging that the irregularities caused a loss of Rs.87.46 crore to the bank....