Tripura News
Rs 27 lakh missing from Gramin Bank's Tila Bazaar Branch; No clue yet; Branch Manager lodges FIR
Bhaskar N Sarkar & Pintu L Dey
PHOTO : TIWN File Photo : TGB Dolugaon Branch Manager Parthapratim Banik complaining the police about Rs 15 Lakhs money looting
KAILASHAHAR, February 19 (TIWN): In a mysterious way Rs 27 lakh got missing from Tripura Gramin Bank's Tila Bazaar Branch, Kailashahar Sub Division. Till date no clue is found either by police or by bank authorities about the huge amount of money that got missing from Bank's locker. However, Branch Manager lodged an FIR in the Kailashahar police station seeking proper investigation. Interestingly in the FIR Branch Manager did not mention any name as suspected . It is learnt that on Tuesday evening when the transaction of the day was over , Cashier Haridas Sinha found that Rs 27 lakh is missing from the locker but on the daily transaction sheet there was no sign of fault. At once the Cashier informed this to the Branch Manager Tapas Nag. On Wednesday at around 3pm Branch Manger Tapas Nag arrived in the bank along with Regional Manager Nibaran Rupini and a large number of police force. Police made the preliminary investigation and after this Branch Manager told the police that Rs 27 lakh has been missing since Tuesday from the bank's account.
As per the statement of the Cashier Haridas Sinha the amount that was handed over to him early on Tuesday when the business of the day started was found to be intact in the adjustment. And he also said that the accordingly he submitted the transaction sheet of that amount as he made all transaction on the basis of the amount received from the manager. On the other hand, manager Tapas Nag said that there are two keys to the locker - one is kept by the manger and the other lies in the hands of Cashier Haridas Sinha. Manager expressed doubt that it might be during the business hours, someone took away the money and now the entire bank officials are under deep suspense.
Common customers opined that this is purely an internal matter of the bank. As both the manager and the cashier got one set of keys with them, any one of then might have removed the money from the locker . Again both the manger and the cashier might have made a conspiracy jointly and now they are behaving as if they are innocent, said common account holders. They demand through investigation on this serious issue as the money could have never been taken by the outsiders except a section of bank officials.
It is to be mentioned here that looting of money in Gramin Bank is not at all new. Around four months before Tripura Gramin Bank's Dalugaon Branch Manager Partha Banik had withdrew Rs 15 lakh and keeping the money in a bag inside his car, when Partha Banik went to buy betel from a near by pan shop, the bag as well the entire money was stolen mysteriously, as Partha Banik recorded his statement. But even after such massive deriliction of duty no disciplinary action was taken against Partha Banik, suspected to be the prime accused. Rather, he is still posted as Branch Manager in Dakugaon Branch. And a section of Tripura Gramin Bank too are in utter surprise how Partha Banik has been able to retain his post of branch manager. Thus, it is suspected that like the previous incident Tuesdays incident too may get lost into the abyss of eternity.
Sanjay Majumder
Anirban Mitra