MUMBAI, June 24: Chain Roop Bhansali, prime accused in the Rs 58-crore Fixed Deposits Repayment (FDR) scam, was remanded to police custody till July 7, 1997 by a metropolitan court today even as he continued blaming State Bank of India for the scam.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate (third court) S B Dhumal returned Bhansali to custody after he was produced before the court by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) deputy superintendent of police E Narayanan at 12 pm.

``Investigations in the case are in progress. A huge amount is involved in the case and serious allegations have been made against C R Bhansali. It appears that further custodial interrogation (of Bhansali) is necessary for the investigation. Hence, further police custody is granted. The investigating officer is directed to include photocopies of the papers produced by the accused in the process of investigation,'' Dhumal ruled.

Bhansali's advocate, Indira Bansal, contended that the CBI's claim of collusion between Bhansali and SBI officers was false. She argued that the SBI officers were guilty of not following rules and proper procedure. She also charged the CBI with inaction saying it was not proceeding against guilty SBI officials.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.