Follow us on Google News
The Central Bureau of Investigation has stepped up its probe into a multi-crore embezzlement case at the Punjab National Bank branch in Sector Pi-1, Greater Noida, after the bank management handed over evidence regarding suspicious activities by a female employee. PNB has so far disbursed 7.80 crore rupees to 16 affected account holders following an initial verification. Sector Beta-2 police confirmed that the refund process is currently underway, with 42 remaining claims under active scrutiny out of a total of 58 claims received by the bank. Senior officials said that audit teams are reviewing three years of financial transactions, records, and vouchers, and the total embezzled sum will be established once the full audit report is submitted.
CCTV Footage Shows Unauthorised Workstation Access
A review of approximately one month of security camera footage revealed that the prime accused, identified as bank employee Deepanshi, repeatedly accessed workstations left unattended by colleagues. The footage showed her operating keyboards and viewing monitors at empty desks before leaving within seconds. Bank authorities suspect she exploited the login credentials of other personnel to carry out unauthorized transactions, and this video evidence has been submitted to federal investigators. The bank has also notified customers that anyone who notices fraudulent debits in their accounts can lodge a formal claim for verification and reimbursement.
Unauthorised Joint Names Added to Liquidate Term Deposits
Investigators discovered that the fraudulent activity extended beyond regular savings accounts to term deposits. Records shared with the agency show that 49 fixed deposits were closed prematurely after unauthorised modifications. The names of Ashutosh Kumar Pathak and other unidentified individuals were added as joint account holders on existing fixed deposits. The settlement accounts were subsequently modified to route the proceeds directly to suspected beneficiaries. Several transaction vouchers and records were found missing from the branch, while mobile transaction alerts were disabled on select accounts to prevent holders from receiving real-time notices.
Senior Branch Officials Named in Federal Complaint
Investigators allege that Deepanshi opened an account in her partner’s name and directed the bulk of the misappropriated funds into it. The complaint filed by PNB Chief Manager Ajay Kumar Pandey names multiple branch officials, including Senior Branch Manager Nisha Tirkey, Senior Customer Service Associate Sandeep Prakash Sharma, Customer Service Associates Meenakshi and Satish Kumar, RM Shailendra Kumar, and Officer Lovely Jain. Two separate cases have been registered by Sector Beta-2 police and the central agency. No arrests have been made as all named accused remain absconding. Local farmers, account holders, and activists have planned a demonstration at the branch to demand prompt recovery of customer funds.
