ICICI Bank, Axis, HDFC Bank shares fall

Shares of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank on Friday tumbled as much as 4.5 per cent in morning trade following accusations that the lenders have indulged in money laundering.

ICICI Bank slumped 4.5 per cent to Rs 1,060.70, while Axis Bank was down 1.97 per cent to Rs 1,327.5 on the BSE.

Shares of HDFC Bank fell by 2 per cent to Rs 636. The BSE bankex index was trading lower by 1.78 per cent at 13,551.22 in the afternoon trade.

The country's three largest private banks were yesterday accused of indulging in money laundering both within and outside with an online portal claiming that a sting operation conducted by it has revealed a scam.

The portal Cobrapost played the contents of purported video recording of officials of HDFC Bank, ICICI and Axis bank allegedly agreeing to receive unverified sums of cash and put them in their investment schemes and benami accounts in violation of anti-money laundering laws.

However, all the three banks had claimed they conduct their business in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements of the highest standards but said they will investigate the charges.

In the broader market, the BSE benchmark Sensex was quoting at 19,481.48, down 88.96 points.