A major financial irregularity has come to light at a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Greater Noida, where several customers allege that crores of rupees from their fixed deposit accounts have disappeared. The deepening crisis has led to the suspension of five PNB employees, including the branch manager, and sparked protests outside the Sector Pi-1 branch.
Customers Allege Premature Closure of Fixed Deposits
Account holders claim that bank employees prematurely closed their fixed deposit accounts and transferred the funds to other, unauthorized accounts. Some customers reported losses amounting to lakhs of rupees. The alleged irregularities were reportedly hidden from customers, who were told that a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) audit was delaying updates to their account details, preventing them from detecting the missing funds sooner.
Police FIR Registered, Investigations Underway
Following a growing number of complaints, including 18 written submissions, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against PNB employees. The case was filed under provisions related to the embezzlement of money by a public servant. Police personnel have been deployed outside the branch to manage the situation, as members of a farmers' union also staged a sit-in, demanding strict action against those responsible.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Greater Noida, has been tasked with investigating the matter thoroughly. In addition to the police inquiry, PNB's internal anti-corruption team is conducting its own investigation. Sources suggest that the case may ultimately be transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) due to its nature and scale.
Bank Assures Return of Funds Amidst Public Outcry
While the bank management has assured affected customers that their complaints will be addressed and their money returned, account holders remain deeply concerned about their savings. The total number of affected customers and the precise amount of money allegedly missing have not yet been publicly disclosed by the bank.
New employees have been posted to the Greater Noida branch following the suspensions, but the ongoing police investigation and the bank's internal inquiry aim to uncover how the funds were withdrawn or transferred and identify all individuals involved in the alleged PNB fixed deposit scam. Customers continue to demand transparency and swift justice.