Punjab National Bank fraud: Crores wiped out from customers' accounts without their knowledge, five suspended
PTC News Desk: A suspected banking fraud has come to light at a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Sector Pi-1, Greater Noida, where money worth crores of rupees belonging to customers is allegedly missing. Following reports of financial irregularities, five bank employees, including the branch manager, have been suspended.
On Wednesday, several account holders gathered at the branch to seek answers about their savings and the suspicious transactions. Members of a farmers’ union also staged a sit-in protest outside the bank, demanding the recovery of the missing money and strict action against those responsible.
Police personnel were deployed outside the branch to maintain order and prevent unauthorised entry, while bank officials conducted an internal investigation.
According to allegations, bank employees prematurely closed fixed deposits (FDs) belonging to several customers and transferred the money to other accounts. Some account holders have claimed that lakhs of rupees have gone missing from their accounts, raising concerns about the safety of their savings.
Customers allege delays in accessing account details
The incident has also raised questions about how the bank handled customers’ requests for account information.
Several account holders alleged that whenever they approached bank staff to update their passbooks or obtain transaction details, they were told that an audit by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was underway. They claimed that these repeated delays prevented them from checking their account records and noticing the alleged irregularities earlier.
The bank has assured customers that efforts will be made to recover their money. However, affected account holders remain worried about the status of their savings. Following the allegations, five employees were suspended and a new team was deployed at the branch. The full extent of the suspected fraud is still unknown.
16 people file police complaint
According to a spokesperson for the Noida Police Commissionerate, 16 people have so far filed complaints in connection with the alleged fraud.
Bank management has assured the authorities that the concerns of affected customers will be addressed.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Greater Noida has been assigned responsibility for overseeing the investigation and ensuring that necessary legal action is taken. Alongside the police investigation, the bank’s anti-corruption team is also examining the alleged financial irregularities.
The investigation will look into how the money was withdrawn or transferred, determine the total amount involved and identify those responsible. The bank has not yet released official figures on the number of customers affected or the total amount allegedly siphoned off.
As the investigation continues, customers are demanding the return of their money and accountability for the suspicious transactions. The findings of the police inquiry and the bank’s internal investigation are expected to clarify the scale of the suspected fraud and determine what further action will be taken.
- PTC NEWS
