NEW DELHI: More than 23,000 cases of money laundering of a whopping Rs 1 lakh crore have been reported in the past five years in various banks, as per the information of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

“A total of 5,152 cases of bank fraud, in which up from over 5,000 cases in 2016-17, were reported in banks from April, 2017, to March 1, 2018”,  it is said in reply to an RTI query lodged by this regard.

Rs 28,459 crore fraud is the highest in amount and have been involved in these cases of fraud reported from April, 2017, to March 1, 2018, the central bank noted.

 While In 2016-17, banks had reported 5,076 cases of fraud involving Rs 23,933 crore.

From 2013 to March 1, 2018, maximum 23,866 cases of fraud, of Rs 1 lakh or above in each case, were r came into light. A total of Rs 1,00,718 crore was whooped in all the cases put together, according to the RTI reply.

The RBI also said 4,693 such cases involving Rs 18,698 crore and 4,639 cases involving Rs 19,455 crore were reported in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively.

 While In 2013-14, banks reported 4,306 cases of fraud, involving Rs 10,170 crore, the central bank stated.

Among the well-known ones is the over Rs 13,000-crore scam in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) allegedly committed by gem-jewelers  Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, who are the promoters of Gitanjali Gems.