
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a criminal case regarding a ₹45 lakh fraud at the Bank of Baroda branch in Devrikalan, Sagar district. The incident involves alleged misconduct by the former branch manager and other bank officials.
Details of the Fraud
The EOW revealed that a complaint was filed accusing Rajesh Sindhuke, the then branch manager of the Devrikalan branch, and several others of misappropriating funds. It was alleged that they unauthorizedly withdrew money from bank accounts and deposited it into various accounts, eventually pocketing the funds.
Investigation and Findings
Following the complaint, the EOW’s Sagar unit conducted a detailed investigation. Evidence collected during the probe indicated that bank officials, including Rajesh Sindhuke, NR Tirkey, Manoj Kumar Pankaj, Arun Kumar Pandey, Akash Kumar, Virendra Katare, and Vidur Jain, misused their official IDs and failed to perform due diligence in verifying transactions.
The investigation revealed that the officials issued banker’s cheques to transfer funds into certain accounts. These funds were later withdrawn in cash using loose cheques, causing a financial loss of approximately ₹45 lakh to the bank while benefitting the accused individuals.
Legal Action Initiated
Based on the findings, a case has been registered against the accused under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amendment Act, 2018). The charges include:
- Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property)
- Section 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant, banker, or agent)
- Section 120B (Criminal conspiracy)
- Sections 13(1)(A) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act
The EOW has commenced further investigation into the matter to gather more evidence and ensure accountability for the financial misconduct.