In a shocking development from Sakti district, Chhattisgarh, a fake branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) was discovered in the village of Chhapora. The alleged bank manager fled the scene, while the local police are currently interrogating five employees who were working at the branch. This incident has raised several concerns among the local community, and a full investigation is now underway.
How It All Started
The fake SBI branch was set up in Vaibhavi Complex, located in Chhapora village. Villagers, suspicious of the bank’s authenticity, filed a complaint at the Malkharoda police station. Responding to the complaint, Police Station In-Charge Rajesh Patel contacted officials from the main SBI branch in Sakti for verification.
Upon confirming the suspicions, the police team, along with SBI officials, raided the location. By the time the authorities arrived, the alleged manager had already escaped. However, five employees who were working at the branch were detained for questioning.
What the Employees Revealed
During the initial round of questioning, the employees claimed they were hired through interviews and even sent for training. While this added more layers to the mystery, it became clear that the branch had been operating without proper authorization. The key questions now are: when did this fake branch start operating, and how many unsuspecting customers have opened accounts here?
As part of the investigation, the police have seized computers and other documents from the fake branch. This evidence will likely reveal more details about how long the branch has been in business and the extent of the fraud. An FIR has been lodged at the Malkharoda police station, and further investigation is in progress.
How the Fake Branch Was Discovered
The fake branch came to the attention of the local SBI team during a routine field visit by an official from the Dabhra branch of SBI. The official noticed an SBI board outside the Vaibhavi Complex and decided to investigate further. When he questioned the employees about how they managed to open a branch, they gave vague and evasive answers. Some even claimed to have cleared the IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) exam, but this didn’t add up, as SBI follows a strict recruitment process directly handled by the bank itself.
The official was quick to raise the alarm, as no new SBI branch can open without the necessary approvals and formal announcements. This revelation left the SBI officials in shock, prompting them to coordinate with local law enforcement to take immediate action.
Ongoing Investigation
The police are now on the lookout for the absconding manager, who seems to be the key player behind this entire operation. Meanwhile, the investigation will focus on how much money the fraudsters managed to swindle from local customers, many of whom had already begun depositing money in the fake branch. It is believed that several local residents were drawn to the branch, unaware of its fraudulent nature.
SBI officials have clarified that whenever a new branch is established, the main branch in the city is always notified, and recruitment is handled directly by SBI. This further supports the fact that the Chhapora branch was operating illegally.
What’s Next?
The authorities have seized all materials from the fake branch, including the computers, which may hold crucial information about the customers and the scale of the fraud. The investigation is ongoing, and more information will likely come to light in the coming days.
As of now, the priority for the police is to locate the runaway manager and understand the full extent of the fraud committed under the guise of this fake SBI branch. Local residents are being urged to remain cautious and verify the authenticity of any financial institutions they deal with in the future.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of being vigilant when dealing with financial services. Always ensure that any bank you are dealing with is officially recognized and authorized to operate.
