Crores transferred from PNB customers' accounts without their knowledge, 5 suspended

A major banking fraud has sent shockwaves at a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Sector Pi-1, Greater Noida where crores of rupees belonging to account holders are suspected to have been siphoned off. Following the discovery of alleged financial irregularities, five bank employees, including the branch manager, have been suspended.On Wednesday, a large number of account holders gathered at the branch to raise concerns over their savings and seek clarification about the alleged transactions.Also, members of a farmers’ union staged a sit-in protest outside the bank, demanding the recovery of the missing funds and strict action against those responsible.Police personnel were deployed outside the premises to maintain order and prevent people from entering the bank, while officials remained inside to conduct an internal investigation. According to allegations, bank employees prematurely closed fixed deposits (FDs) belonging to several customers and transferred the money to other accounts.Some account holders have claimed that lakhs of rupees have disappeared from their accounts, triggering concerns over the safety of their deposits. The controversy has also raised questions about the handling of customer requests for account information.Several account holders alleged that whenever they approached bank staff to update their passbooks or obtain transaction details, they were told that an audit by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was underway.They claimed that the repeated delays prevented them from checking their account records and discovering the alleged irregularities earlier.Although the bank has assured customers that efforts will be made to recover their money, the affected account holders remain anxious about the status of their savings.The suspension of five employees and the deployment of a new team have followed the emergence of the allegations, though the full extent of the suspected fraud remains unclear.According to a spokesperson for the Noida Police Commissionerate, 16 people have so far lodged complaints with the police.The bank management has assured authorities that the grievances of the affected account holders will be addressed.The Greater Noida Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) has been assigned responsibility for overseeing the investigation and initiating necessary legal action.Apart from the police inquiry, the bank’s anti-corruption team is also investigating the alleged irregularities.The probe is expected to examine how the money was withdrawn or transferred, establish the extent of the suspected financial wrongdoing and identify those involved.The bank has not yet released detailed official figures on the total number of affected customers or the amount allegedly siphoned off.As the investigation progresses, account holders are demanding the restoration of their funds and accountability for the alleged transactions.The findings of the police and the bank’s internal inquiry are expected to provide further clarity on the scale of the suspected fraud and the action to be taken against those found responsible.- Ends