Bank Fraud: Rs 60 Lakh Swindled From Angul Collector’s Account, Ex-Manager Arrested

Angul: A former branch manager of HDFC bank was arrested on Saturday on the charges of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 60 lakh from the account of Angul district Collector. The ex-branch manager has been identified as Shakti Bedanta Das.

Das while working as the manager of HDFC Bank in Angul had fraudulently withdrawn the money by forging the signatures of the district collector in 2017-18.

As per reports, the account was opened in the name of the Collector and the amount (CSR Fund) was deposited in 2015 for various developmental projects of National Highway and State Highways in the district.

It is alleged that Das withdrew the money through eight cheques on different occasions. After committing the crime, Das left his job and started working at IDFC bank in Bhubaneswar.

The fraud came to light after Angul Assistant Collector Ranjan Mohanty lodged a formal police complaint in connection with the incident on September 11, 2019.

“No cheque book was issued to us and the money was fraudulently withdrawn in cash through forged signature of ex-Collector and cheques. After a complaint was lodged, the bank refunded the entire money yesterday,” said Angul Collector Manoj Mohanty.

Meanwhile, the accused has got bail and he claimed that 'no case diary or charge sheet has been submitted by the police yet due to lack of evidence, almost seven months after this scandal came to limelight.'