Even before Nissan ejected its longtime leader Carlos Ghosn, friction was growing between Ghosn and CEO Hiroto Saikawa.

Nissan plans to widen its probe to investigate possible misconduct at its alliance joint venture entity with Renault and a host of subsidiaries, people familiar with the matter said. It's a move that could trigger more criminal charges in the wake of Carlos Ghosn's arrest.

Nissan promised to improve corporate compliance after Tokyo prosecutors indicted former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, close aide Greg Kelly and the automaker itself for allegedly understating Ghosn’s compensation.

Carlos Ghosn was planning to remove Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa before Ghosn was arrested in Japan last month for alleged financial misconduct, people familiar with the matter said.

Prosecutors are expected to charge Nissan as a corporate entity, alongside ousted Chairman Carlos Ghosn, for allegedly violating Japan’s financial laws, the Nikkei newspaper said.

The attorney for Nissan director Greg Kelly, called the “mastermind” of Chairman Carlos Ghosn's alleged financial misconduct, says his client did nothing wrong.

Japan's jail system treats Carlos Ghosn, one of the auto industry's most powerful executives, like any other criminal suspect.

New details of Carlos Ghosn's alleged financial misconduct have come to light amid mounting speculation the ousted Nissan chairman could be re-arrested by Japanese prosecutors and possibly detained past Christmas as investigators probe new allegations.

As Carlos Ghosn sits in a cramped Japanese jail with the fate of his global auto empire in limbo, two conflicting scenarios are emerging to explain the stunning upheaval.