Barbil, Odisha: Police in Odisha’s Kendujhar district have arrested a former ICICI Bank relationship manager and his father for allegedly misappropriating ₹4.2 million from multiple customer accounts through forged signatures, fake cheque books, manipulation of account operations, and unauthorized fund transfers. Investigators believe the fraud was systematically carried out by targeting several bank customers.
The accused have been identified as Jasprit Singh, a former relationship manager at the ICICI Bank branch in Barbil, and his father, Vikram Singh. According to the police, the father-son duo allegedly siphoned off funds from several customer accounts by forging signatures, issuing fraudulent cheque books, manipulating account operations, and transferring money through multiple email-linked channels.
The case came to light after Anita Agarwal, a resident of Mrinal Colony in Barbil and a bank customer, lodged a written complaint with the local police on March 14. She alleged that approximately ₹1.6 million had been withdrawn from her account without her knowledge or authorization. The investigation revealed that forged signatures and fake cheques had allegedly been used to facilitate the unauthorized withdrawals.
Following the complaint, police began examining banking records, transaction documents, and other technical evidence. During the preliminary investigation, suspicion fell on Jasprit Singh, who allegedly fled after the inquiry began. A search operation was subsequently launched to trace his whereabouts.
Police later tracked him to the Thakurpukur area of Kolkata, where he was arrested on August 3. He was brought back to Odisha on transit remand for further questioning. During interrogation, investigators said he allegedly admitted his involvement in the fraud and disclosed his father’s role in the operation.
Based on his statement, police raided the family’s residence in Mrinal Colony and arrested Vikram Singh on August 6. Both accused are currently being questioned as investigators seek to determine the full extent of the fraud, identify all affected customer accounts, and trace the movement of the misappropriated funds.
Preliminary findings suggest that the accused used forged documents and counterfeit cheque books to gain access to multiple customer accounts before transferring funds through various channels. Investigators are also examining whether any additional individuals were involved in the operation. If further evidence of unauthorized withdrawals emerges, additional charges may be added during the course of the investigation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and is focused on establishing the complete scope of the alleged ₹4.2 million fraud, identifying other potential victims, and determining whether additional accomplices were involved.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
