NEW DELHI: An Indian court on Saturday ordered three people arrested by the federal police on suspicion of involvement in a $1.77 billion fraud at state-run Punjab National Bank to remain under police custody until March 3.

The three were arrested late on Friday, marking the first arrests in a fast-widening probe into the country's biggest bank scam. 

The court in Mumbai ordered they remain under police custody and said the agency must get a fair chance to investigate the case, citing the potential consequences to the country's economy.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jhadav; Editing by Alison Williams) ((manoj.kumar@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4954 8029; Reuters Messaging: manoj.kumar.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))