The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a branch manager and a field officer of Punjab National Bank’s Garhmukteshwar Branch in Hapur. The arrests were made in connection with the demand and acceptance of a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a complainant for the approval of a loan.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gaurav Kumar, the branch manager, and Pramod Kumar, the field officer. The case was registered based on a complaint that alleged that the complainant had applied for a KVIC loan to purchase sewing machines under the PMEGP scheme.
According to the complaint, the loan was approved by the bank, but the branch manager and field officer demanded a bribe or commission for the disbursal of the loan amount of Rs 2 lakh. The accused allegedly informed the complainant that a loan of Rs 4 lakh would be sanctioned instead of Rs 2 lakh, and they demanded Rs 1 lakh as a bribe, equivalent to 25% of the loan amount.
In response to the complaint, the CBI set up a trap, and the field officer was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount of Rs 20,000 as the first installment on behalf of both accused individuals. The branch manager was also apprehended. Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused in Meerut and Hapur.