Puri: Funds Go Missing From Accounts, Bank Assures To Redeem After Protest

In a shocking development, funds deposited in the accounts of several people at the Sata Sankha branch of the Union Bank in Puri have reportedly gone missing. 

As per reports, various women's organisations from Ratha Purushotampur, Saraswatipur and Jasuapur Panchayats under Pipili Block had opened accounts in the bank for savings, investment and other financial transactions. However, the depositors recently learnt that the funds in the accounts at the bank had been withdrawn at regular intervals without their knowledge. 

The members initially drew the attention of the police and bank over the matter but when the officials failed to credit the funds, the members resorted to a sit-in protest in front of the bank on January 18.

The development threw the operations at the bank to a grinding halt for three days until Friday when the demonstrators withdrew the stir after the authorities of the bank assured to redeem any missing funds from the accounts. 

Union Bank’s DGM (Deputy General Manager) and Branch Operation Manager discussed the matter with the irate protesters staging the demonstration in presence of Pipili MLA Rudra Pratap Maharathy. 

The bank authorities assured to conduct an internal probe into the matter and deposit any missing money in the respective accounts of women's organisations by February 28.

Speaking over the case, protester Mamata Baral said, “Over Rs 38 lakh fund is missing from 3 accounts belonging to women's organisations. On the first day of our protest on January 18, the Zonal AGM discussed the matter with us but his answers were not satisfactory. He didn’t even take any action to resolve the issue."

“We discussed the matter with the MLA in the presence of the protesting women. We will try our best to resolve the issue as soon as possible, said Sovan Senapati, DGM, Union Bank.