A case has come to the fore where about Rs 85 lakh has allegedly been withdrawn from the accounts of at least six account holders of Singiri Bazar-based Indian Bank branch under Aul police station without their knowledge. The victim account holders allegedly suspect that it might be the handiwork of the bank staff.

They alleged that a former Branch Manager of the branch along with a few others allegedly withdrew Rs 85 lakh from their bank accounts.

The matter came to the fore after one Surendra Nayak of Bandhasahi -Bilikana village lodged a written complaint on January 20 against the bank officials with police. Nayak who works in Dubai alleged that a sum of about Rs 70 lakh deposited in five accounts of his family members was slyly withdrawn without their knowledge. He claimed that their signatures were forged.

Acting on the complaint of Nayak, the Aul police registered a case and started an inquiry. Similarly, another victim Anjan Kumar Mahalik of Singiri village alleged that a sum of Rs 11 lakh had been withdrawn from his spouse Sashikala’s account.

One Sadananda Prusty also alleged that he fell victim to the fraud and lost Rs 4 lakh in his fixed deposits at the same bank branch. “I came to know about the matter, when I printed the passbook,” stated Prusty, a senior citizen.

When contacted the SDPO of Pattamundai Khyamasagar Panda said a case had been registered at Aul police station. The police have arrested and forwarded peon of the bank Satyananda Ghadei to court for his involvement in the embezzlement of funds. Further investigation was underway.

Branch Manager Sandip Nayak of Singiri-based Indian Bank admitted fraudulence by some insiders in the bank and informed that a departmental inquiry had started.