Over 2,400 people in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district are in a state of panic after gold ornaments pledged as collateral for loans allegedly vanished from the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Gara mandal.
The incident came to light after several customers, who had repaid their loans, requested the bank to return their gold ornaments. However, bank officials deferred their requests, citing an ongoing internal audit.
This sparked suspicion and anxiety among customers, leading to protests outside the branch. Adding fuel to the fire, the deputy manager of the bank, Swapna Priya, attempted suicide shortly after the allegations surfaced. She died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vizag, further intensifying the anger and fear among customers.
Regional Manager T Raju filed a police complaint, alleging that around Rs 4.5 crore worth of gold was missing and suspecting the involvement of six bank employees, including Swapna Priya and another employee named M Suresh.
Both were responsible for handling the gold ornaments, loans, and money transactions. Bank officials remain tight-lipped about the details of the investigation and internal audit. However, they have promised to return the gold ornaments to customers who have fully repaid their loans.
The incident has caused widespread panic and distrust in the banking system. Customers demand transparency and a thorough investigation to bring the culprits to justice and ensure the safe return of their valuables.
