A case has been registered against Punjab National Bank branch manager Sanjiv Singh, posted in Varanasi, at Ramgarh Tal police station over allegations of fraud, forgery and intimidation. The complainant has accused the bank official of cheating in the name of providing loans and conducting financial transactions. Police have started a detailed investigation.
Mudra Loan Trap Initiated in 2015
According to Indira Nagar resident Bholanath Maurya, a house on Nahar Road is registered in the name of his mother Ramrati Devi. He stated that he met then field officer Sanjiv Singh in 2015. The accused allegedly promised to arrange a ₹2 lakh loan under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, following which Maurya started a cyber café, photocopy and stationery shop and regularly paid the loan instalments.
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Forced Account Opening and Insurance Fraud
The complaint further states that later Sanjiv Singh was transferred to the Nathnagar branch in Sant Kabir Nagar as branch manager. After the transfer, he allegedly pressured the complainant to spend money on house rent and repair work in Gorakhpur. The complainant claims that the accused also pressured him to open a new account in Ramrati Devi’s name at the Nathnagar branch despite an existing joint account.
It has been alleged that the account was a current account and its passbook was not provided. Later, nearly ₹2 lakh deposited in the joint account was allegedly invested in an insurance policy through forged signatures. The investment was allegedly made in a PNB MetLife insurance policy.
Security Cheque Misuse Triggers RTI Probe
The complainant stated that when an SMS showing zero balance was received, attempts were made to seek clarification but no satisfactory explanation was given. After this, the accused allegedly offered an unsecured loan of ₹3 lakh and took a cheque as security before transferring the amount to the account.
It is further alleged that the amount invested in the insurance policy was never returned and proper account details were not provided. Later, the security cheque was reported missing and was subsequently bounced, leading to legal action against the complainant.
Forged Signatures Exposed Through RTI
During the inquiry, information obtained through RTI reportedly revealed suspicious signatures on the savings account opening application form. The complainant has claimed that the bank records contain doubtful document authentication.
Police have registered a case based on the complaint and initiated an investigation. Officials said that banking documents, signature samples and financial transaction records will be examined. If the allegations are proven, further legal action will follow.
At present, the role of the accused branch manager is under scrutiny. Police are also trying to determine whether any other person was involved in the alleged fraud. Further action will be taken after the investigation report is completed.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
