Bandhan Bank Employee Fraud, Customer Loses Rs 7.7 Lakh

In Bhiwani, Haryana, a recovery officer and an employee of Bandhan Bank allegedly defrauded a customer of approximately Rs 7.7 lakh. They are accused of taking money from the customer under the pretense of loan repayment but instead pocketing the cash. They even issued a fake No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the customer. The Industrial police station has registered a case.

The Incident:

MD Rohit Brar of Bandhan Bank Limited, Bhiwani, reported that on April 22, 2024, a customer named Gajju contacted the bank. Gajju claimed to have paid off his loan, yet the bank was still calling him to pay installments. Rohit Brar inquired how Gajju had closed his loan.

Gajju explained that on August 4, 2023, he visited the Bandhan Bank Bhiwani branch and paid Rs 1.75 lakh in cash to Arun, the dealing employee. Arun assured Gajju that the NOC for the loan account would be issued after six months. On April 6, 2024, Gajju received the NOC from Arun via WhatsApp.

Investigation:

Upon investigating, bank officials discovered that the NOC issued by Arun was fake. They also found that Arun had completed the entries in the customer’s passbook in his own handwriting. No record of the payment existed in the bank’s system. Arun, who was a relationship executive at the bank, had resigned on April 10, 2024.

The Fraud:

Arun is accused of committing this fraud in collusion with other bank employees. He recorded about Rs 7.7 lakh in customers’ passbooks but did not post these transactions in the bank’s system. Gajju received a fake NOC through Arun’s phone, making it appear as though his loan was paid off.

Police Action:

The Industrial Thana Police has registered a case against former employee Arun and other suspected employees. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to uncover the full extent of the fraud and hold those responsible accountable.

Conclusion:

This incident highlights the importance of vigilance and transparency in financial transactions. Customers should always verify their payments and documents with bank officials to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent schemes. The bank and the authorities are expected to take stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure the safety of customers’ funds.