Police in Greater Noida are investigating customer claims that balances vanished from a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch, after registering a case at Beta-2 police station over alleged criminal breach of trust.
The branch is in the Pi-1 area of Aichhar. Customers say the disputed accounts included savings and fixed deposits. Reports have put the alleged total at nearly Rs 35 crore (Rs 350 million).
A police officer told The Indian Express that the first information report (FIR) gives no figure for the alleged loss and investigators had yet to calculate a total. Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanchit Sharma said complaints were being investigated and PNB was conducting an internal inquiry, The Indian Express reported.
The Indian Express reported 25 complainants. The New Indian Express said about 18 people had approached police and cited police sources who put formal complaints at 16. The reports give different counts for people who approached police and complaints filed. The New Indian Express also reported five suspensions, including the branch manager; The Indian Express and PTI described the number as several employees.
Haneef Khan told PTI that the Rs 39 lakh he said was in his account no longer appeared there. He said he received no message about a transfer and had not authorized one. PTI also reported that Vijendra Singh said his savings balance had fallen from around Rs 87 lakh-88 lakh to Rs 1 lakh. The wire service reported that Zakir said he had Rs 9.5 lakh in his account.
A PNB chief manager told customers and reporters outside the branch that all staff had been transferred and the money would be returned within a week, The Indian Express reported. The New Indian Express reported that bank officials had promised customers repayment by Thursday, Oct. 29. It also reported that PNB had not issued an official statement.
