In a significant legal development, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Narendra Kumar has directed the Bijnor Kotwali police to register a case against Sunil Kumar Verma, the Chief Manager of the Punjab National Bank’s circle office, in a case of alleged fraud.
The case was brought to the court’s attention by Mohammad Shahzad, a resident of Mohalla Kalalan in Nagina. Shahzad’s advocate, Alok Govil, explained that the issue began when Shahzad sought financial assistance from the Punjab National Bank (PNB). The bank’s Nagina branch had valued Shahzad’s property at ₹1.14 crores, based on which Shahzad was granted two loan limits of ₹85 lakh.
Shahzad managed to repay one of the loans and received a no-dues certificate from the bank. However, due to complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to clear the second loan. The bank then sent him a notice offering a one-time settlement.
In an attempt to resolve the matter, Shahzad visited the Bijnor circle office on 2nd April 2024 and handed over ₹5 lakh to the bank manager, Sunil Kumar Verma. However, Shahzad alleges that Verma refused to issue a receipt for the payment. When Shahzad requested the receipt, the manager reportedly became agitated and initiated recovery proceedings against him, despite the payment.
The situation escalated when the High Court intervened and issued a stay on the recovery proceedings. Shahzad also approached the police, but when no action was taken, he filed an application in the CJM court. Recognising the seriousness of the allegations, the court accepted Shahzad’s application and ordered the Bijnor police to register a case and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
This case highlights the legal recourse available to individuals facing financial disputes with banks, especially in situations where standard procedures may not have been followed. The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how such cases are handled in the future.
