MUMBAI, Aug. 26 -- A special PMLA court has allowed ICICI Bank to transfer Rs.33.02 crore in rental and other receipts from a lessee of Kolkata's Axis Mall into a fixed deposit held in favour of the court in the money-laundering case arising from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud. The mall is linked to fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Group, and Choksi is a key accused in the alleged Rs.13,000-crore fraud. The order, passed on Tuesday by Special Judge S K Karhale, concerns Rs.33.02 crore lying in a Kotak Mahindra Bank account. The amount comprises rent and amenities charges received from Lifestyle International, along with future rentals and other charges accruing until the property, a portion of which has been attached by the ED, is auctioned. The ED opposed ICICI Bank's application, arguing that the money should not be transferred "for any purpose" until the final disposal of the matter. The court, however, said the funds should be moved into a fixed deposit because keeping such a large amount idle would result in a loss of interest to the beneficiary. "Considering all the facts and circumstances, it would be appropriate to release/restore the said amount for fixed deposit on some conditions," the court said, directing the ED to allow the Rs.33.02 crore, along with future rent, amenities charges and licence fees, to be transferred to an FD. The money will remain subject to the final outcome of the pending proceedings in the case. The court made it clear that the arrangement did not amount to a final determination of ownership to the money. The ED attached a portion of Axis Mall in 2018 along with other properties linked to Choksi and companies controlled by him as part of its investigation into the PNB fraud. Choksi, his nephew Nirav Modi, and PNB officials had allegedly conspired to defraud the bank by issuing fraudulent LOUs to raise credit from overseas branches of Indian banks....