SBI Pfutsero staff held for fraud

One State Bank of India (SBI) staff of Pfutsero branch has been arrested for allegedly committing fraud on a customer.
According to reports, a lady lodged an FIR at Pfutsero Police Station on March 11 this year stating that she had fix deposited (STDR) Rs 10 lakh from her savings bank account at SBI Pfutsero branch on November 24, 2020 for one year at an interest rate of 5% per annum.
Upon maturity of the principal amount with interest, she re-deposited the entire amount of Rs 10,40,908 for another year at an interest rate of 5% per annum on November 24, 2021.
After the amount matured to Rs 11,28,053 on November 14, 2022, she went to the bank to withdraw her matured fix deposit on December 5, 2022, but was requested by bank officials to come another day as there was a huge rush that day at the bank.
She went again to the bank on January 24 this year and approached the bank officials. But, to her utter surprise, the manager told her that there was no such fix deposit account. After she showed the receipt, the manager assured her that the matter would be looked into. But till the date of filing of the FIR, the bank could not refund the money or solve the issue.
Following the lodging of FIR, an inquiry was launched and it was found that a dealing clerk – Veluvo Soho, son of Shenutso Soho of Phek, who was currently posted at SBI (RACC) Mokokchung – had withdrawn the money in 2020 and that no money was deposited/transferred to the fixed deposit account. All related documents were obtained and verified. Fake fix deposit receipt was also seized from the victim.
Later, the accused bank clerk was asked to report to Pfutsero police station and was arrested when he appeared. He is currently in police remand as the case is being investigated.
Meanwhile, SBI has appealed to its customers and public to check and verify all related documents before leaving bank counters. It also appealed to the customers to count cheque leaves whenever any new account was opened or a new cheque book was received in order to avoid such incident in the future.