The CBI has taken over investigation of Uttar Pradesh police FIR relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 4.25 crore from a branch of Bank of India in Prayagraj by the Currency Chest Officer in connivance with a businessman and his son.
Currency Chest Officer Bashishtha Kumar Ram, businessman SK Mishra and his son Sanju Mishra are named as accused in the case. The accused persons have been charged for criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery among others.
According to the UP police FIR, which is now part of the CBI case, Rs 4.25 crore was found missing from the currency chest during an audit on July 3, 2019. The local police registered a case on July 3, 2019 on a complaint from the Bank of India.
During initial questioning by Prayagraj police, Ram claimed that he had transferred the money to a ‘Gramin Bank’ but could not give the name of the gramin bank. Upon further questioning, he admitted that he did not transfer the money to any gramin bank and instead gave the money to a businessman and his son and used to illegally take interest on the missing amount for personal gain.
Ram intentionally misused the amount of currency missing from the bank’s chest. He siphoned the government funds with a dishonest intention, according to the FIR.
The agency is studying the contents of the FIR and the probe reports of the UP police and will subsequently initiate further action and investigation in the matter, officials said.