Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (DC)
Bengaluru, Mar 29: A man from Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Thursday March 29 for opening a fake branch of Karnataka Bank in his Ballia district of UP and cheating customers. A huge stash of various items, including forms, pass books, three computers, laptop, furniture and other articles were seized.
The accused Aafaq Ahmed from Badaun had opened the fake branch in Mulayam Nagar of Fefna area in Ballia district. Ahmed, who was operating this branch as the manager, went by the name 'Vinod Kumar Kambali' perhaps inspired by former cricketer Vinod Kambli. Ahmed possessed a fake Aadhaar and other identities in the same name. His id card said he was from Mumbai West.
The police said that Ahmed collected a total of Rs 1.37 lac by opening 15 savings accounts and fixed deposits of the locals. During the raid it was unearthed that he had managed to open 15 savings accounts and minimum balance of Rs 1,000 was required to open an account. The locals were also duped by the accused into opening fixed deposits, ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000.
The incident came to light with the help of an alert citizen who helped the Delhi branch officials of Karnataka Bank to trace the fake branch.
The citizen grew suspicious of the branch in Ballia and informed Delhi branch, following which bank officials decided to investigate the matter. After realizing that there was no branch of the bank on record in Ballia, the officials asked him to send the photos of fake branch.
Immediately the AGM left for Varanasi and headed to fake branch along with the head of the Varanasi branch. Following complaints, the police along with bank officials raided the fake branch which was run from the house of a former army man in Mulayam Nagar.
During the raid when Karnataka Bank AGM asked him to show Ahmed’s appointment letter, RBI license and authorization documents of the bank’s headquarters, he was caught red handed. FIR was lodged under sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC against Ahmed.
The other employees who were working at the fake branch were spared since they had no information regarding the scam.