The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a look-out notice against Chanda Kochhar, the former CEO and managing director of ICICI Bank, her husband Deepak Kochhar and Venugopal Dhoot of the Videocon group.

The notice effectively means that these individuals cannot travel outside the country.

The move to issue the notice was taken nearly a week after a case was registered against Kochhar, her husband and Dhoot.

While the notice may be procedural in nature, it has been issued to ensure that these people, alleged to be involved in clearing loans worth Rs 1,875 crore to Videocon Group, are unable to leave the country, PTI quoting CBI officials said.

A look-out notice is sent to immigration authorities to ensure that any accused person is detained and handed over to the prosecuting agency.

The CBI had been criticised for diluting the lookout circular against liquor baron Vijay Mallya, which led to his escape to the UK in 2016.

However, no summons have been issued against Kochhar to record her statement so far.

During the tenure of Chanda Kochhar, six loans worth Rs 1,875 crore were allegedly given to the Videocon group and its associate companies.

In its FIR, the CBI had also named several top honchos of the banking industry, alleging that they were also members of the sanctioning committees whose role needs investigation.

Chanda Kochhar was one of the members of the sanctioning committee that sanctioned two loans — Rs 300 crore to Videocon International Electronics on August 26, 2009 and Rs 750 crore to Videocon Industries on October 31, 2011, the FIR has alleged. It further alleged that the loans were issued in violation of policies and regulations of the bank.