Asst bank manager swindles Rs 47L from dormant a/cs, held

Recently, the kin of a deceased person went to the Indian Bank branch in Erukkanchery near Kodungaiyur to withdraw the money in the account of the deceased and was shocked to find out that the entire sum had been withdrawn. However, within two days the entire sum was credited back into the account which raised suspicion about misappropriation of bank accounts.

Since the assistant manager of the branch B Vinoth (33) of Vetuvankani did not have a proper explanation, an internal inquiry was ordered in which the bank authorities found out that Vinoth activated as many as 18 dormant accounts of deceased persons and issued debit cards. The bank balance was withdrawn through the cards.

Based on the complaint of bank manager PD Rajendra Balaji, the bank fraud prevention wing of the Central Crime Branch registered a case and arrested Vinoth.

Investigation revealed that Vinoth’s friend S Nataraj (35) of Ennore was also part of the crime and the latter was also arrested.

An official told DT Next that Vinoth identified the dormant accounts through the monthly audit reports and chose accounts with certain balance for which he would be the signing authority. “He activated the account by making Nataraj pose as the kin of the deceased and issued debit cards,” said the official.

The duo, who spent about Rs 47.60 lakh in a lavish manner after looting the bank accounts, was remanded in judicial custody.