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A serious case of alleged banking fraud has emerged from Car Nicobar, where a bank employee has been accused of illegally withdrawing ₹15.48 lakh from customer accounts without authorization.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over financial security and internal controls in remote banking branches.
Unauthorized Debits and Balance Discrepancies
The case is linked to the Car Nicobar branch of Andaman and Nicobar State Cooperative Bank, where a staff member is alleged to have misused access to customer accounts and carried out repeated unauthorized transactions over a long period.
The complaint was filed by Ranjit Lakra, an Assistant Pipe Fitter with the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD). He alleged that money was debited from both his account and his wife Phool Kumari’s account without their knowledge or consent.
The matter came to light on May 2, 2026, when the complainant and his wife visited the bank branch to withdraw ₹1 lakh. At the counter, they were informed that only ₹32,000 remained in the account. Shocked by the discrepancy, they immediately checked their transaction history and discovered multiple suspicious withdrawals.
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Installment Timelines and Target Account Verifications
According to the complaint and subsequent verification, around ₹4.74 lakh was withdrawn from the wife’s account in several installments between November 27, 2024, and February 6, 2025. These funds were allegedly transferred to multiple unidentified accounts without any authorization from the account holders.
Further scrutiny revealed that the complainant’s own account was also affected. Between April 30, 2024, and October 30, 2025, approximately ₹10.74 lakh was debited through repeated transactions. The total alleged fraudulent amount from both accounts stands at ₹15.48 lakh.
During the investigation of transaction records, the complainant alleged that the diverted funds were credited to an account linked to a bank employee identified as Dorothy, who was working at the same branch. It is further alleged that forged documents, duplicate signatures, or other fraudulent methods may have been used to access the accounts and execute the transactions.
Administrative Escapes and Statutory FIR Bookings
The complainant also stated that he had earlier approached bank management and requested immediate action and recovery of the missing funds. However, he claimed that no effective response was received, which forced him to approach the police.
Following the complaint, Car Nicobar Police registered FIR No. 0017/2026 on May 28, 2026. The case has been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds.
Investigating agencies are now examining whether the fraud was carried out by a single individual or involved internal collusion within the banking system. Officials are also reviewing possible security lapses that may have allowed unauthorized access to customer accounts over an extended period.
Regional Oversight Constraints and Digital Audit Trails
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over banking security in remote regions, where limited oversight and weaker monitoring systems can increase the risk of internal fraud. Experts have emphasized the need for stronger authentication mechanisms, real-time transaction alerts, and stricter access control policies.
Police are currently analyzing detailed bank records, transaction logs, and account histories to trace the flow of money and identify all individuals involved. Investigators are also checking whether other employees had knowledge of or facilitated the alleged fraud.
The case remains under active investigation, and further legal action will depend on the findings of the police probe and internal audit reports.
