Indian Bank Scandal: Loans Worth ₹70 Lakh Disbursed to 13 Dead Account Holders
Gorakhpur– A shocking banking fraud has been uncovered at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Jungle Kaudia, Gorakhpur, where approximately 7 million rupees (70.20 lakh INR) were illicitly siphoned off through fraudulent loans. Investigations reveal that bank employees colluded with a canteen worker to orchestrate the scheme, approving loans in the names of 13 deceased individuals. These individuals were retired bank employees who held pension accounts with the SBI and had since passed away.
On Thursday, a senior SBI official, an Assistant General Manager from Lucknow, arrived at the Jungle Kaudia police station to formally submit the bank’s internal investigation report to the case investigator. Police are now expected to use this report to guide their further actions in the ongoing case.
The elaborate fraud involved the use of fabricated documents to secure loan approvals, not only from the accounts of deceased pensioners but also from Kisan Credit Card accounts and other accounts within the Jungle Kaudia branch of the State Bank of India. Following the initial discovery, Pipiganj police registered a case against the bank manager, a cashier, and a canteen employee. The cashier, identified as Amarendra Singh, was apprehended and incarcerated, while the canteen employee, Pankaj, surrendered to the court.
The initial alarm was raised on January 4, 2024, when a bank account holder, Raju, lodged a complaint at the regional office of the State Bank of India in Taramandal. Raju reported the unauthorized transfer of 300,000 rupees from his account into the account of Pankaj Mani Tripathi, the canteen worker, alleging misappropriation of funds by bank staff. This complaint triggered a surge of similar grievances, prompting the regional office to launch an internal inquiry led by a designated officer.
The ensuing investigation implicated the branch manager, Kumar Bhaskar Bhushan, accountant Amarendra Kumar Singh, and canteen worker Pankaj Mani Tripathi in a widespread জালিয়াতি scheme. They are accused of using forged documents to fraudulently obtain funds from pension accounts, Kisan Credit Card accounts, and various other types of accounts. Pipiganj police initiated an investigation, naming all three individuals as accused. Subsequently, the bank suspended both manager Kumar Bhaskar Bhushan and accountant Amarendra, initiating departmental proceedings against them. The internal bank inquiry identified canteen worker Pankaj Mani Tripathi as the central figure in the elaborate fraud.
Canteen Boy Becomes Millionaire
Pankaj Mani Tripathi, a 20-year-old resident of Balua village in the Jungle Kaudia area, had become a canteen worker at the bank. He reportedly cultivated significant influence within the bank premises. Exploiting this position, Pankaj allegedly targeted elderly retired individuals in the area, and in collusion with bank insiders, began fraudulently processing loans in the names of deceased individuals. Through these illicit activities, the canteen worker amassed a fortune, becoming a millionaire.
Three Fake Kisan Credit Card Loans Uncovered
On Thursday, Suresh Kumar, the Assistant General Manager and investigating officer from SBI, personally delivered a 78-page investigation report to the police in-charge at the Jungle Kaudia police station. The report detailed a total embezzlement of 7,120,000 rupees (71.20 lakh INR) uncovered during the investigation. The fraudulent activities primarily involved pension loans and loans related to animal husbandry. The report identified 18 individuals involved in the loan approvals, of whom 13 were deceased pension holders. The investigation also revealed the fraudulent approval of three Kisan Credit Card loans as part of the scam.