Pune Police’s Crime Branch has issued lookout notices against Union Minister Narayan Rane’s wife, Nilam Rane, and his two sons, Nilesh Rane and Nitesh Rane, in connection with cases related to unpaid loans taken from a financial institution.

A lookout notice is a notice to prevent a person from leaving the country. Immigration officials at airports, ports and road borders are now authorised to detain Narayan Rane’s wife and sons if they try to leave India.

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said the state had received a letter about the issue from the Centre. He said the letter was transferred to the Director-General of the Maharashtra Police, who handed it over to the Pune Police.

The notices stated that “there is apprehension that the said co-borrower may leave the country anytime with a malafide intention to evade repayment of the loan granted by Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL) and escape the legal actions that may be taken”.

Artline Properties Pvt Ltd, a firm owned by Nilam Rane, had availed a loan of Rs 25 crore from DHFL in which she was the co-borrower and the outstanding on the account was over Rs 27.13 crore.

Nilam Hotels, owned by Nitesh Rane, who is also an MLA, had also availed a loan from the private financial institute whose outstanding was over Rs 34 crore. Both the loan accounts were later classified as NPAs by DHFL due to non-repayment.