Woman Accuses Punjab National Bank of changing Locker Lock without Permission in Ghaziabad
PNB Locker: A woman from Dhindhar village in Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, has accused the management of Punjab National Bank (PNB) of tampering with her locker, claiming that the lock was changed without her knowledge. The woman alleges that the locker contained gold and silver jewelry valued at approximately Rs 20 lakh. This accusation has sparked protests outside the bank, with the woman’s family and villagers demanding an explanation as to why the lock was changed and whether the jewelry is still intact.
Family and Villagers Stage Protest Outside PNB Branch
The situation escalated when Munesh, the woman in question, and her family gathered outside the PNB branch located on Kasba Road, Ghaziabad, to protest. Villagers also joined in, staging a dharna (sit-in) in front of the bank, demanding answers from the bank officials. The protestors are seeking clarity on whether the jewelry is still in the locker and why the lock was changed without prior notice.
PNB Branch Manager Assures Investigation
In response to the growing unrest, PNB’s branch manager, OP Meena, assured the protestors that the matter is under thorough investigation. The bank has called in the employees who were present when the lock was allegedly changed for questioning. However, the situation remains unresolved as of now.
Locker Number 338 Allegedly Tampered With
The woman, identified as Munesh, holds a locker at PNB’s Kasba Road branch, numbered 338. She claims that she last accessed the locker 18 months ago, at which time all her gold and silver jewelry, valued at over Rs 20 lakh, was intact. However, when she attempted to open the locker three days ago, she discovered that the lock had been changed.
Discrepancy in Lock Change Date
Upon informing the bank manager, Munesh was told that the lock had been changed on September 21, 2023, following a request from her. However, Munesh strongly denies ever making such a request to the bank. This discrepancy has fueled her suspicions, prompting her to question the motives behind the sudden change.
Allegations of Fraud and Lack of Notification
Munesh has also made serious allegations against the bank, claiming that an unknown person, possibly working in collusion with bank officials, deposited Rs 7,000 into her account before the locker was accessed. She is questioning why she was not informed about the lock change, especially considering her son Vishal’s mobile number is registered with the bank. Additionally, Munesh points out that the person who changed the lock was not asked to provide their Aadhar card, and no video recording was made during the lock change process, which is a standard practice in such cases.
Vishal Takes Legal Action and Files Complaints
Vishal, Munesh’s son, has taken immediate action by filing complaints with various authorities, including PNB’s headquarters, the bank’s customer care, the District Magistrate of Ghaziabad, and the local police. In response to his complaint, the police visited the PNB branch on Friday to initiate an investigation into the matter. Senior officials from the bank are also looking into the incident to uncover the truth.
Villagers Demand Transparency from Bank Officials
As the investigation continues, the villagers have made it clear that they will not leave the premises of the bank until they receive complete and satisfactory information regarding the locker tampering incident. The ongoing protests highlight the community’s frustration with the bank’s handling of the situation and their demand for accountability.
The case has raised questions about the security and transparency of locker management at PNB, and all eyes are now on the ongoing investigation to determine what really happened.
Generally Locker key is changed by the bank at the request of the customer in writing this happens only when key is lost. Moreover at the time of changing the lock customer presence is must.