In an alleged corruption case within India’s public banking sector, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended a branch manager of the Central Bank of India in Assam for soliciting and accepting a ₹5,000 bribe in exchange for a routine customer service favour. The incident underscores persistent concerns about accountability in rural banking operations.
A Persistent Problem in India’s Banking Infrastructure
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested the branch manager of the Central Bank of India’s Dhamdhama branch, located in Nalbari district, Assam, on charges of demanding and accepting a ₹5,000 bribe from a customer. The arrest followed a sting operation set up after the aggrieved customer lodged a formal complaint.
According to official statements, the accused allegedly demanded the bribe to facilitate an increase in the complainant’s Overdraft (OD) facility — a service the bank is otherwise obligated to assess and process through formal criteria. The demand was characterized as an “unlawful gain” in the complaint filed with the CBI.
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The CBI, acting swiftly on the complaint, laid a trap and caught the accused branch manager red-handed while accepting the bribe amount. The operation was conducted on May 29, 2025. Following the arrest, a case was formally registered, and the accused was produced before the jurisdictional CBI Court in Guwahati.
The accused has been charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI has indicated that further investigation is underway to examine whether similar practices were part of a broader pattern at the branch.
If convicted, the accused could face significant jail time, along with disqualification from government service. The Central Bank of India has not yet issued an official comment regarding the status of the branch manager or the operational implications for the Dhamdhama branch.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.