In a significant ruling, the Special Judge for CBI cases, Court No. 01, Ahmedabad, sentenced 19 individuals, including a former bank manager and 18 private persons, to rigorous imprisonment (RI) ranging from three to five years in connection with a bank fraud case. A total fine of ₹15.35 lakh was imposed on the convicted individuals.
The convicted individuals include Becharbhai Ganeshbhai Zala, the then Branch Manager of State Bank of Saurashtra, Naroda Road Branch, Ahmedabad, and 18 private individuals, namely Paresh Kantilal Bhagat, Atul Laxmishankar Bhatt, Mahesh Murlidhar Sabnani, Balvant Nathalal Nai, Hemant Hasmukhlal Khatri, Dinesh Manilal Joshi, Devendra Hasmukhlal Devidar, Jitendra Kantilal Patel, Jagdish Bhupendrabhai Patel, Tejas Rameshchandra Brahmbhatt, Ritesh Dhirajlal Sheth, Atul Dasharatlal Brahmbhatt, Bharat Ratilal Joshi, Kartik Harshadrai Patel, Amit Harshadrai Patel, Yogesh Harshadrai Patel, Nilesh Dilipbhai Shah, and Sinhal Nareshbhai Trivedi.
The State Bank of Saurashtra was a government-owned bank in India, with its headquarters at Bhavnagar. It was one of the seven Associate Banks of the State Bank of India, with which it merged on 13 August 2008.
The Case Background
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on July 18, 2002. It was alleged that Becharbhai Ganeshbhai Zala, then Branch Manager, conspired with private individuals to defraud the State Bank of Saurashtra’s Naroda Road Branch under the guise of a Public Housing Scheme. The accused abused Zala’s position as a public servant to secure financial benefits amounting to ₹38.75 lakh, resulting in significant losses to the bank.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The CBI filed 12 separate charge sheets during the investigation. The charges included criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery of valuable securities, and misuse of official authority. The trial involved the testimony of over 60 prosecution witnesses and 142 documentary exhibits to substantiate the charges.
Verdict and Sentencing
The court found the accused guilty of the charges and pronounced its judgment on five of the 12 cases. The sentences for the 19 convicted individuals include rigorous imprisonment of three to five years, along with fines amounting to ₹15.35 lakh.
The case underscores the severity of financial fraud and the legal consequences of abusing public office for personal gain.
