Aul, Feb 5: A former peon of Singiri Baazar Indian Bank branch in Aul of Kendrapara district has been arrested in connection with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 85 lakh from the bank accounts of at least six customers, said police on Monday.
The customers have alleged that the money was withdrawn without their knowledge.
The money has been withdrawn from seven accounts of six customers, including four members of a family. The matter came to the fore after one of the customers Surendra Naik of Bandha Sahi Bilikana village lodged a written complaint against the bank officials on January 20.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested the bank peon Satyananda Ghadei following preliminary investigation.
The current Branch Manager of Singiri Baazar Indian Bank admitted the embezzlement of the money and said that a departmental investigation is going on.
According to reports, Surendra had an NRI account in the bank along with other three accounts in the name of his wife and two sons.
The arrested Satyananda used to help them in withdrawing money from the bank during the Covid pandemic in 2020. Surendra’s family members had developed a faith on him and used to withdraw money by cheque through Satyananda who was then peon of the bank.
He has withdrawn around Rs 70 lakh from five accounts of Surendra’s family members including his two sons who are working overseas.
Similarly, Sadananda Prusty of Alihar village has lost Rs 4 lakh and Rs 11.15 lakh has been withdrawn from the account of Anjan Mahalik, a resident of Raisarpur village.
Aul police station IIC Sabyasachi Satpathy said a probe has been initiated following the complaint. The former peon of the bank has been arrested and others involved in the forgery will be arrested soon.
