UCO Bank Officers request MD to remove GM from his Role

In a recent development, Mr. Ramawatar Meena, Assistant Manager at UCO Bank’s Mansarovar Branch in Jaipur, was detained by officials from the Cyber Police Station in Palam Vihar, Gurugram, Haryana. The incident has sparked serious concerns among bank employees and the UCO Bank Officers’ Association (Delhi State), who have raised the alarm about undue pressure and alleged misconduct by Mr. Ambikanand Jha, the General Manager (GM) of Business Development.

A branch officer of UCO Bank’s Mansarovar branch in Jaipur was taken into custody by the Cyber Crime Police of Gurugram, Haryana, on October 19, 2024, following an investigation into digital fraud cases linked to several current accounts. The officer was detained after police inquired about 5-7 current accounts, reportedly involved in digital fraud, during a day-long visit to the branch. As per the reports, the officer opened current account without proper due diligence and fraud transactions took place in that account.

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According to a letter from the UCO Bank Officers’ Association, Mr. Jha is accused of employing “intimidating, threatening, and pressurizing” tactics on branch officials. It is alleged that he is enforcing directives that conflict with corporate guidelines, compelling branch staff to open two Savings Bank (SB) accounts with a minimum balance of Rs. 5,000 per day—significantly higher than the corporate guideline of Rs. 2,000 in metropolitan centers and even lower in rural areas.

The letter highlights that officials who do not comply with Mr. Jha’s demands are allegedly targeted, facing threats of transfers to distant locations like Kolkata or Coimbatore, as well as career-damaging consequences such as lower performance appraisal ratings, which could hinder their promotions. Under such pressure, officers reportedly open accounts without following the proper Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, leading to the creation of “money mule” accounts—accounts often misused for illegal financial activities.

The association claims that the detention of Mr. Meena is a direct result of these unlawful instructions and called for immediate action. It urges the bank’s senior leadership to take the issue seriously, alleging that Mr. Jha’s behavior is detrimental to both bank employees and the institution’s image. They argue that Mr. Jha should be reassigned to a policy-making role at the corporate office, as his current role is not suitable for direct dealings with staff or the public.

The association also requested that UCO Bank provide legal assistance for Mr. Meena and ensure his immediate release, emphasizing that their submission should be seen as an appeal for positive action rather than a complaint. The letter concludes with a call for the preservation of the bank’s reputation and the welfare of its employees.