Steephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Jun 14: The police team which was investigating the case of pledging of fake gold and borrowing Rs 4 crore in Mottathodi service cooperative bank, has arrested a bank manager.
The arrested is identified as bank’s Vidyanagara branch manager Santhosh Kumar (44). With his arrest, the number of arrests has gone up to six. The investigating team has information that Santhosh Kumar, bank appraiser T V Satheeshan and Kuntaru Uyithadka’s U K Harris are the kingpins in the cheating. Opening bank account in the name of Santhosh Kumar’s wife Rekha and depositing Rs 56 lacs in it has come to light during the investigation. In the circumstances, police are thinking of registering a case against her also.
The investigating team which raided the house of Santhosh Kumar in Ambalathara Kotappara has seized Rs 3.5 lacs cash, several fake jewelry ornaments and records relating to bank loan.
Some gold ornaments pledged in Mutathodi bank’s evening branch were reported missing when the investigation was started. Police have said that investigations will be conducted to find out if the ornaments found in the house of accused Santhosh Kumar are the ones reported missing from the bank’s locker. Meanwhile another cheating by principal suspect U K Harris arrested two days ago has come to light.
Harris has cheated after pledging fake gold in Mulleriya service cooperative bank branch in Bovikkana also. He had pledged 71.800 grams fake jewelry and had borrowed Rs 1.21 lacs. Adooru police have registered a case in this regard. As the picture of Harris was published in the media, the gold pledged by him was verified and found to be fake. The bank secretary has complained to Adooru police.
Police have said that customers who have cheated the bank will be arrested in the days to come.