​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, May 7: A major fraud involving nearly ₹1 crore has come to light at Malkangiri KCC Bank, with the Vigilance Department tightening its probe into the racket. Two associates of the bank’s branch manager Sudhanshu Khara- Nibedita Tarai and her live-in partner Nrusingha Khamari- have been arrested by Vigilance officials. Earlier on May 5, branch manager Sudhanshu Khara was arrested and is currently being interrogated on remand.

During the investigation, Vigilance officials found that Sudhanshu had allegedly transferred around ₹63 lakh to the accounts of Nivedita and Nrusingha fearing arrest. Sources said Sudhanshu had first come in contact with Nibedita through Facebook, after which they allegedly conspired to siphon off bank funds. Nrusingha Khamari is also accused of actively assisting in the fraud.

Investigators suspect that the duo operated a professional fraud racket and may have cheated several people in different parts of the state. A ₹14 lakh fraud case has already been registered against Nrusingha at the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate. Apart from this, the accused are also reportedly linked to another ₹30 lakh fraud case in Jagatsinghpur. Their racket is suspected to have spread across Baripada, Paradip and Bhubaneswar as well.

As part of the crackdown, Vigilance officials have frozen 25 bank accounts linked to the accused and are examining 12 stock trading accounts allegedly opened by them. During raids at their houses in Bhubaneswar and Khordha, officials seized 33 mobile phones, desktops, tablets, gold ornaments, a drone and expensive cameras among other valuables.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Sudhanshu Khara and Nibedita Tarai were jointly operating the fraud syndicate.