Mumbai, April 9 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs.16.95 crore in connection with its money-laundering probe into the alleged Rs.122-crore embezzlement at New India Co-operative Bank Ltd (NICBL). The attached assets-including fixed deposits, bank balances, residential flats, a commercial office and agricultural land-are linked to the bank's former chairman Hiren Bhanu and his family members. The action has been taken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said on Wednesday. The ED initiated its probe last year based on an FIR registered by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), after the alleged fraud came to light in February following an audit by the Reserve Bank of India at the bank's head office. In the case, the EOW had earlier arrested the prime accused, Hitesh Mehta, former general manager and head of accounts at the bank, for allegedly siphoning off around Rs.122 crore, largely during the Covid-19 period. According to the ED, Mehta manipulated the bank's accounting systems and created fictitious entries of inter-branch cash transfers to divert funds over an extended period. Investigators claim he later admitted to repeatedly withdrawing cash. The agency further alleged that the diversion of funds was carried out at the behest of Bhanu, who exercised control over the bank's operations. Bhanu's wife, Gauri - who also served as acting chairman- has been identified as a beneficiary in the case. Officials said the couple allegedly received proceeds of crime worth about Rs.26 crore. They are currently believed to be abroad and have not cooperated with the investigation....