A scribe here demanded a Crime Branch probe into a case in which the Utkal Gramya Bank's Phulbani branch did not return his gold ornaments, he had mortgaged in lieu of some loan. He alleged that the bank had not given any notice before auctioning the ornaments. Pramendra Pandey (43) of Contractor Pada under Phulbani police station in the district had brought a loan of Rs 6,000 on August 11, 1998 from the Kalahandi Anchalika Gramya Bank, which is now called as the Utkal Gramya Bank. In 2003, when Pandey inquired about his gold ornaments, the bank staff did not help him, he alleged.
After the death of his mother due to blood cancer, Pandey on October 29, 2008, wrote a letter to the bank to know about the status of the mortgaged gold ornaments of her mother, but he could not get any answer from the bank. Then Pandey applied for information through the RTI Act on July 21, 2009 and the bank answered that his all required information is in the computer, whereas it didn't provide the information. Even the Information Commission on January 12, 2010 directed the bank to supply the required information within 15 days, but in vain.
After not getting information from the bank, Pandey on September 7, 2010 lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman of the Reserve Bank of India, who accepted it and informed that his gold ornaments were auctioned by the bank. The Ombudsman also asked Pandey to submit his opinion regarding the answer within seven days. Pandey said that he had sent a letter within the time frame and even he had received an AD card from the Ombudsman's office, but he was informed that the letter failed to reach at Ombudsman's office in time. The Ombudsman rejected Pandey's complaint and gave order in favour of the bank.
On the other hand, the Information Commission hearing the previous called Pandey on April 27, 2012 and heard the two parties and adjourned for June 20. Pandey was absent on the day before the commission due to his family problem and the case was closed.
Pandey alleged that the commission didn't impose fine on the bank for delay in furnishing the information, though there is a provision in the RTI Act. He also alleged that the bank didn't serve him notice before auctioning his ornaments. What compelled the bank officials to hide the information about the auctioning, he questioned.
Pandey said that he would lodge a complaint before the Economic Offence Wing of the Crime Branch to get justice.