
The manager of ICICI Bank’s Sundar Nagar branch in Ludhiana has absconded after duping six bank account holders of over Rs 80 lakh. The bank filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him on Wednesday after a customer approached senior officials upon losing his money.
Details of the Case
The FIR has been filed against Rahul Sharma, a resident of Kolkata, under sections 420 (cheating) and 408 (criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Rahul Sharma had been working as the manager of ICICI’s Sundar Nagar branch since 2022. The police have registered the case based on the statements of Arvind Kumar, the regional head of the bank.
Complaint and Investigation
The complaint against the manager was received on March 11, prompting the police to initiate an investigation. The police found that Rahul Sharma had been working with ICICI Bank since 2010 and gradually rose to the position of manager at the Sundar Nagar branch. Being associated with the bank for a long time, he was familiar with many bank account holders, especially those in the hosiery industry located in the Sundar Nagar area.
Modus Operandi
Rahul Sharma identified at least six accounts that had not been operated for a long time and started siphoning off money from them. He updated the mobile numbers associated with these accounts using fake ID proof and began transferring different amounts, such as Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.
Manager’s Disappearance
When a customer discovered the fraudulent activity while checking his account, he contacted Rahul Sharma, who promised to investigate the matter and provide an update. However, Rahul Sharma took a long leave and left Ludhiana, never to return. After Rahul Sharma’s disappearance, the bank checked the accounts and found that approximately Rs 80.75 lakh had been embezzled. The bank then lodged a complaint with the police.
There must be technology in the mechanisation that the accounts in which no debit transaction is made continuously one month, the SMS should be on auto inform mode and SMS to be auto reach over the customers’ mobile.
Gurther, inoperative accounts in which heavy amount involves, must be stopped with back end.
Rightly said. Huge balance accounts not operated for one month must be blocked and activated only after customer confirmation
Every change must involve bio authentication..then fraud will never happen and none can fraud
Heavy amount is meant for cheating.. BM was clever and did it..