SBI official among seven booked for farm loan fraud

It is said, three of the senior employees, Relationship Manager Pradeep, Assistant Bank Manager Rajendran and clerk Madhan who were working in the Asaveerankudikadu branch of SBI in Sendurai block in Ariyalur district, in 2012 had reportedly swindled a sum of Rs 40 lakh from the accounts of the farmers, who had applied for agricultural loans. 

They reportedly helped Krishnamurthy, a sugarcane inspector from Eraiyur and two middlemen, Nallathambi and Gopi, who helped them lure the unsuspecting farmers. The offence was later found out by the top officials during their surprise inspection and the bank officials were terminated after their inquiry. 

Similarly, Palanisamy who was working as a Relationship Manager in Varadharajan Pettai branch of SBI in Sendurai block in 2011 had swindled an amount of Rs 24 lakh from the bank accounts of farmers. He was also terminated after the fraud being busted. 

Meanwhile, the top officials of the bank approached the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ariyalur to proceed criminal action against the terminated officials. However, the officials also challenged their charges against them. 

After a detailed hearing, the court on Monday ordered the Ariyalur Crime Branch police to register a case against all the seven members.