Nearly ₹17 crore worth of counterfeit notes were found in the currency chest of Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Saharanpur. The matter came to light during a bank audit.
Following this, six RBI officials arrived on Tuesday at around 8 a.m. in two vehicles with Meerut registration numbers to conduct an investigation. The officials are currently inside the bank. The investigation has been underway for more than four hours.
They are questioning officials associated with the bank. People are being allowed to enter and leave the bank, but no one is being permitted to enter or leave the currency chest. Access to the area has been restricted.
After the matter came to light on Monday, three bank officials were suspended at around 3 p.m.
The investigation revealed that CCTV footage showed a part-time housekeeper taking money out of bundles of notes. An FIR has been registered against four people at Sadar Bazar police station. The case was registered based on a complaint by Arun Kumar Chaubey, chief manager of PNB Meerut and the investigating officer.
The FIR names Senior Divisional Manager Ravi Kumar Kansa, Currency Chest Manager Sushil Kumar, Currency Chest Manager Amit Kumar, posted in Yamunanagar-Jagadhri, and housekeeper Vishal Kumar. The bank has suspended three officers. Meanwhile, the bank is also investigating the matter internally. According to sources, the investigation may be handed over to the CBI.
This is the Punjab National Bank branch located in Saharanpur’s Sophia Market. Fake currency notes worth ₹7.40 crore were found here.
₹4.30 lakh less was found in the amount sent to Jaipur
Following a shortfall in the amount sent from PNB’s currency chest in Saharanpur to Jaipur, the matter came to light. A few days ago, part-time housekeeper Vishal Kumar was assigned the task of arranging bundles of currency notes worth approximately ₹11.50 crore in the currency chest at the PNB branch located at Ghantaghar. These included soiled, mutilated and other types of notes.
The bank was supposed to send this amount to the RBI’s Jaipur currency chest. As per the prescribed procedure, the money was sent to Jaipur on 5 August. When the notes were counted there, ₹430,900 was found missing. The Jaipur currency chest informed PNB officials in Meerut about the discrepancy.
This picture was taken this morning when RBI officials arrived in two vehicles to conduct an investigation.
Housekeeper seen taking out notes in CCTV footage
After this, the bank sent Chief Manager Arun Kumar Chaubey to Saharanpur to investigate. Along with bank officials, he examined the footage from the CCTV cameras installed in the currency chest. The footage showed part-time housekeeper Vishal Kumar taking money from bundles of notes.
After the CCTV footage came to light, the bank removed Vishal Kumar from his job. It also filed a theft case against him for allegedly embezzling the money.
The investigating officer questioned the officials and employees of Punjab National Bank.
Currency chest audit began on 9 August
After the irregularity involving the housekeeper came to light, the bank began auditing the currency chest on August 9. The investigation team matched the cash present in the chest with the records.
A major irregularity came to light during the audit. When the money kept in the currency chest was examined, counterfeit notes worth approximately ₹17 crore were found. The discovery of such a large quantity of fake currency caused panic among bank officials.
Three bank officials questioned
Following this, the investigating officer questioned the officials associated with the currency chest. Questions were put to Senior Divisional Manager Ravi Kumar Kansa, Currency Chest Manager Sushil Kumar, and Currency Chest Manager Amit Kumar, who is posted in Yamunanagar-Jagadhri.
All three were asked how the counterfeit notes had reached the currency chest and been stored there. According to the investigating officer, none of the three officials could provide a satisfactory explanation. The bank’s senior officials were subsequently informed about the entire matter.
Manager Nisha Singh said: “After the matter came to light, the bank suspended all three officials.”
Departmental inquiry initiated against bank officials
Senior Manager Nisha Singh, posted at PNB’s divisional office located on Delhi Road, said: “After the matter came to light, the bank suspended all three officials. The bank is also conducting a departmental inquiry.”
The police are now investigating how such a large quantity of counterfeit notes reached the bank’s currency chest, when and through whom the counterfeit notes were placed there, and who all were involved.
DIG says, “Case filed against four in currency chest matter”
DIG Abhishek Singh said:
A case has been registered against three managers based on a complaint by the bank’s chief manager. A case has also been registered against the part-time housekeeper for stealing money. The bank is conducting an internal investigation, while the police are also investigating the entire matter.
