A Pune-based Special CBI court has sentenced Shaliwahan Solegaonkar, then Branch Manager, Bank of Maharashtra, Pune to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment(RI) and levied a fine of Rs 24 lakh on him, while it has awarded three years’ rigorous imprisonment to one Rakesh Yadhav, a private person, along with a fine of Rs 10,000 on him.
The CBI had registered a case on June 28, 2018 on the allegations that during the period 2009 to 2017, Solegaonkar, a Branch Manager in 5 different Branches of Bank of Maharashtra at Pune, had allegedly entered into criminal conspiracy with Jadhav and other unknown persons and both the accused fraudulently misappropriated an approximate Rs 2,56,15,998 from the bank’s funds.
The modus operandi used in the alleged crime was Solegaonkar while working with the bank in different capacities —as Clerk, Dy. Manager at Sahakar Nagar Branch, Dy. Manager at Lavale & Lasurne branches,Manager at Hadapsar Industrial Estate and Talegaon Dhamdhere branches—had transferred various amounts from Bank General Ledger (BGL) account to a Savings Account opened in the name of Jadhav which was maintained at Sahakar Nagar Branch of Bank of Maharashtra at Pune.
Subsequently, Shaliwahan Solegaonkar transferred the said amounts from the account of Jadhav to his own Savings Bank Accounts maintained at Vadgaon Budruk Branch and Sahakarnagar Branch of Bank of Maharashtra, respectively and thereby allegedly misappropriated a total amount of Rs 2,56,15,998, which was entrusted to him as banker.
After investigation, the CBI filed five charge sheets were filed before the Special Judge, BI Cases, Pune on December 20, 2018 and December 26, 2018 under sections 120-B of IPC r/w 409 and under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of P.C. Act, 1988 against the two accused.
The Trial Court found the accused guilty and convicted them.