
A significant case of jewellery theft from the State Bank of India’s Shahganj branch has come to light, where gold ornaments deposited as collateral for gold loans have reportedly gone missing.
The bank’s internal investigation has uncovered alarming discrepancies. Five packets of jewellery are completely missing, and the jewellery in 14 other packets is reportedly less than the recorded amounts.
Incident Discovered During Loan Closure
The theft came to notice on August 14 last year when a customer, Phoola Devi, visited the bank to close her gold loan account. Upon checking her jewellery, she found some of it missing. The bank verified her complaint against the loan file, confirming the discrepancy.
Following this, the bank controller was informed, and an internal investigation began, lasting five months.
Suspicion Falls on Bank Staff
The locker and chest keys were in the custody of accountant Sanjay Seth and cash in-charge Om Prakash Yadav. However, during the investigation, both denied any knowledge of the theft. Outsourced employees Rajendra and Satiram also claimed ignorance of the matter.
Police Case Registered
On Friday afternoon, branch manager Vivekanand lodged a formal complaint at the police station, reporting fraud and theft against an unidentified individual. However, the complaint did not specify the value of the stolen jewellery.
Police Investigation Underway
Kotwali in-charge inspector Deependra Singh stated that a detailed investigation has been launched due to the seriousness of the case. Efforts are underway to identify the culprits and recover the stolen jewellery.