By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The SBI Amlarem Branch has refunded the defrauded amount of about 50 customers. The cashier of the branch Sample Pohthmi who had committed the fraud was arrested in 2009 by CID sleuths. Pohthmi had fraudulently withdrawn crores of rupees from the accounts of several customers.
The SBI had conducted an inquiry following complaints of money gone missing by the customers. It was later confirmed that Pohthmi, who had been working in the bank for the last six years, withdrew huge amounts of money from customers’ accounts through bogus means and by forging their signatures.
“We have refunded around 50 odd customers their dues twice in the past. A sum of Rs 66,02,740.00 in June, 2010 and Rs 69,77,5026.00 in January, 2011 amounting to Rs 1.4 crore was refunded after the Bank’s self investigation,” said a source from the bank requesting anonymity.
However, the cases of the remaining customers remain unsolved as police are still investigation the matter and have not yet submitted their report. “The whole case is being probed by the CID Department. What remains to be refunded now are the Fixed Deposits (FD). Customers are holding fake FD receipts, and photocopies with them. Those cannot be verified by the bank since there is no record of those receipts with the bank,” said the source.
The source also said that the CID has sent these documents to the State’s Forensic Laboratory for verification and is awaiting report. “After the police report is submitted to the Court, the case will be heard and the Court will give its verdict,” said the source adding that last month some of the affected customers have even filed a case with the Jowai Consumer Court.
An official of SBI Zonal Office, Shillong also confirmed that the cases which were established as genuine after investigation in the 2009 fraud case at SBI’s Amlarem Branch was refunded to customers. On the case of the cashier the official said, “He was suspended on disciplinary grounds and further investigation is on to ensure he refunds the customers’ money.”
Meanwhile, in the Meghalaya Police Headquarters, Shillong there is an attempt to pass the buck. The receptionist at the CID office asked this reporter to meet the DSP (CID), who is said to be investigating the case. But the DSP (CID) passed the buck to the DIG (CID), since he said that he has been asked by the IG (CID) to do so. On meeting the DIG (CID) this reporter was told to meet the IG (CID). Finally, the IG (CID) directed the reporter to the ADGP (CID) saying that he is the spokesperson.
Interestingly, the ADGP (CID) feigned ignorance about the case. “Let the affected branch bring the matter to the IG (CID) and on his order I will give out the details. I am not aware about the details of case and nothing can be divulged during the process of an investigation,” he said.