More than Rs 4 lakh fraudulently withdrawn by UBI CSP in Digboi

From our Correspondent

DIGBOI, Nov 3: While the Modi government has been laying significant thrust on the banking sector to meet the need of every citizen of India and provide scopes and avenues for attainment of various benefits and services, fincial anomalies involving swindling of customers’ money at the United Bank of India (UBI), Tingrai Branch in Digboi in Tinsukia district on Wednesday afternoon has certainly impacted the sanctity of banks, thus raising several questions regarding security of customers’ deposited money in banks.

According to the office bearers of Tingrai unit of All Adivasi Student Association, Nivaran Das working under UBI Tingrai Branch as CSP had illegally withdrawn an amount of Rs 4,00,784 on different dates in October from the two different savings accounts. These are account number 1173010313421 in favour of Bidu Bagarsai (account opened by Nivaran Das) and 11173010312943 in favour of Gangi Tanti (account opened by Joba Das, the bank CSP). He had allegedly swindled the said amount by transferring the money into the savings account belonging to his wife Joba Das.

The crime when detected by the innocent customers and members of the student body along with the aggrieved customers rushed to the bank and following a thorough inquiry by the bank staff and officials, the allegations were found to be true. The amount had been withdrawn on different dates in the month of October without the knowledge of the customers concerned, as alleged by the customers.

However, after a brief turmoil and commotion in the bank premises, Nivaran Das engaged as CSP under the said bank, admitted of the act and entered into an formal agreement with the aggrieved party of repaying the said amount after making a part payment the same evening, which amounted to Rs 3,70,000 and remaining Rs 51, 000 assured to be paid within November 10.

Bidu Bagarsai was returned Rs. 3,50,000 while Gangi Tanti was given back 20,000 in cash after the duo ironically declined to accept on account  payment mode. However, a formal record was made in the presence of bank officials and other people, including the AASA members. At last, Das in his written statement had admitted of committing the act without the knowledge of the customers and had agreed to repay in full.

Meanwhile, Nipendra Das, the father of the alleged swindler, while speaking on behalf of his son Nibaran Das (26), said that he had maged from his loan account and repaid the said amount to the aggrieved party to tide over the situation. According to him, other CSP holders also visited him and operated from his son’s CSP device earlier using his son’s ID without maintaining any transaction record thereafter.

Unfortutely, when contacted, Dinesh th, the Branch Mager of the bank, who neither lodged any FIR in the local police station nor informed the police, said that the amount was withdrawn and transferred. However, it was returned to the customers after Nibaran Das’s father Nipendra Das maged to repay the amount the same evening. When asked about discipliry action, if any, initiated to this effect against Nivaran Das, th said that he had nothing to do as the CSP was an outsourcing body but he had informed the higher authority of the bank and area mager of the CSP, Mithun Das.