A major issue has been reported at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Maholi town, Sitapur district, where ₹60,000 was withdrawn from two bank accounts without the account holders even stepping into the bank. The victims, Balak Ram and his son Ajay Kumar, residents of Muraun Tola, are now fighting for justice after receiving no support from the bank officials.
Money Withdrawn Without Visiting Bank
According to Balak Ram, on April 11, he deposited ₹25,000 into his SBI account, while his son Ajay Kumar deposited ₹30,000 in his own account. Both of them had linked the same mobile number to their accounts. On April 16, they were shocked to receive a message that ₹60,000 had been withdrawn — ₹25,000 from Balak Ram’s account and ₹35,000 from Ajay’s account. During this time, neither of them had visited the bank or authorized any transactions.
Victims Humiliated When Asking for Help
On April 19, Balak Ram approached the SBI branch manager to file a formal complaint. However, he claims that no action was taken. A few days later, he and his son again visited the branch to request an investigation, including checking the CCTV footage and transaction records.
Shockingly, instead of assisting them, the branch manager, Surendra Kumar Kushwaha, allegedly behaved rudely, used abusive language, and said, “Who will pay for the cost of the investigation?” He even told them that if they wanted a quick investigation, they should do it themselves. The victims were left feeling insulted in front of others present in the bank.
Complaint Filed with Banking Ombudsman, LDM, and PMO
With the help of local public representatives, Balak Ram has now submitted written complaints to the District Lead Bank Manager (LDM), the Banking Ombudsman, and even the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Branch manager Surendra Kumar admitted that he received the complaint and said the issue was recent. He also mentioned that there were some technical faults in the CCTV cameras, which would be repaired soon.
Not the First Time Such a Case Has Occurred
This isn’t an isolated case in Maholi. In the past, Rekha Gupta, an account holder at the Indian Bank branch in the same town, also reported a similar fraud where a large sum of money was withdrawn from her account without her knowledge. In that case too, possible involvement of bank staff was suspected.
