Kanpur: Jewellery worth around ₹50 lakh has allegedly gone missing from a woman’s locker at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Swaroop Nagar, Kanpur. Kaushalpuri resident Rashmi Arora has accused the bank management and employees of negligence. She said she had opened a savings account at the erstwhile State Bank of Travancore branch in 2003 and was allotted locker number 23 at the same branch. She had allegedly kept jewellery worth around ₹50 lakh in the locker. Police have registered a case against the bank manager and employees following her complaint and have begun an investigation.
After the death of her husband, Rashmi Arora moved to Lucknow to live with her daughter. As a result, she was unable to visit the bank and check her locker for a prolonged period. Around four months ago, she visited the bank with her daughter and learned that the State Bank of Travancore branch where she had maintained her account and locker had since been merged with SBI. She also learned that locker charges continued to be deducted from her bank account.
Locker details provided after account transaction
According to Arora, she deposited money into her bank account on July 21. The bank subsequently provided her with details of her locker. However, she did not have the locker key with her that day and therefore could not open it to check its contents. She later contacted the bank and completed the process required to inspect the locker.
On July 27, Arora returned to the bank and opened locker number 23. She alleges that the jewellery she had kept inside was missing. She immediately sought an explanation from the bank management and employees but claimed that she did not receive a satisfactory response. She subsequently raised the matter with the bank and approached the police, alleging negligence and seeking an investigation.
Case registered on police commissioner’s direction
After allegedly failing to receive a satisfactory response from the bank, Arora approached the police commissioner. In her complaint, she sought an investigation into the disappearance of jewellery worth around ₹50 lakh and alleged negligence by bank personnel.
Following the police commissioner’s direction, Swaroop Nagar police registered a case against the bank manager and employees. Investigators are now examining the bank’s locker records, documents related to locker operations, access registers and available electronic records.
Police will also examine when the locker was last accessed and whether anyone other than the authorised customer could have gained access to it. Records maintained by the erstwhile State Bank of Travancore and documents related to the subsequent merger with SBI are also expected to be examined.
RBI rules on bank locker liability
Cases involving missing valuables from bank lockers have often raised questions about the responsibility of banks. Banks have traditionally argued that they do not know what customers keep inside lockers. To strengthen customer protection, the Reserve Bank of India introduced revised locker-related rules that came into effect in January 2022.
Under the applicable framework, a bank can be liable in certain circumstances where locker contents are lost or damaged because of events such as employee fraud, theft, robbery, fire or the collapse of a building. The bank’s liability can extend up to 100 times the annual locker rent, subject to the applicable rules and conditions.
Since the compensation framework is linked to the annual locker rent, customers should understand the applicable limits before storing high-value items. Maintaining a private inventory of valuables kept in a locker can also help in documenting ownership and the contents in case of a dispute.
Similar locker cases reported in Kanpur
Kanpur has witnessed several cases involving alleged disappearance of jewellery from bank lockers in previous years. In February 2018, jewellery worth crores of rupees was reported missing from 32 lockers at a Union Bank branch in Pashupati Nagar.
In September 2021, jewellery worth around ₹1.5 crore was allegedly reported missing from a woman’s locker at a Bank of Baroda branch in Kidwai Nagar.
In April 2022, jewellery worth approximately ₹4 crore was reported missing from 11 lockers at a Central Bank of India branch in Karachikhana. The same month, jewellery worth around ₹50 lakh was allegedly reported missing from a woman’s locker at a Bank of India branch on Mall Road.
In the latest case, police are examining the complete history of locker number 23, bank records and the role of employees. The investigation will determine how the jewellery allegedly disappeared, whether the locker was accessed without the customer’s knowledge and who, if anyone, may be responsible.
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.
