The Problem of Corrupt Bankers

The gangland-style shooting of a lady State Bank official at Agyathuri has sparked speculation about a corrupt banker circle that can go to any extent to cover up their skulduggery. Two motorcycle borne assailants had gunned down the service manager of SBI Dadara branch last week as she was driving home from work. Of the two among three men arrested so far, one is an SBI field officer who recommended loans and verified its use, and the other is a former SBI loan recovery agent. While only a thorough probe can establish their guilt, preliminary reports point to a loan mafia in the bank. Rules were bent, frauds perpetrated and ‘commissions’ extorted in providing bank loans, particularly to farmers. The murdered lady banker is said to have exposed a corrupt circle in Dadara branch to SBI vigilance officials, following which the field official was transferred while the loan recovery agent’s service was terminated. Such criminalisation inside banks will make it impossible for honest officials to survive, leaving customers totally at the mercy of the black sheep. Sinking under bad loans, banks can ill afford loan mafias within their staff. Such malcontents must be rooted out fast.