Gopeshwar branch of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank.
Samvad Sahayak, Jagran, Gopeshwar: Till now, the police has not been able to properly investigate the scam of Rs 3 crore 19 lakh that took place in the Gopeshwar branch of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank. The investigating officer had asked for documents related to financial crime from the bank, but since the files related to the scam are in the head office of the bank, the police have not been able to get any documents yet.
It was also told that there are many such accounts on which after taking the loan, the accused deposited the loan amount and closed them, due to which he has not been able to participate in the amount of the scam.
Senior Manager Anurag Pundir, who was posted at the branch of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank in Gopeshwar between August 17, 2022 and June 5, 2025, embezzled a huge amount of Rs 3 crore 19 lakh by creating loan limits by showing employees and teachers through fake documents.
Police investigation revealed that the amount was transferred at different times to five accounts, including those of the accused manager and his father along with some business firms. Naresh Rathore, in-charge of Gopeshwar police station, said that the investigation of the case has been handed over to the senior sub-inspector.
The investigating officer has asked for files related to financial crimes from the bank, but the bank management has said that the files are in the head office and has assured to make them available soon. However, the delay in handing over the files to the police is bound to delay the investigation.
There is also suspicion of more irregularities in the bank than the financial scams detected so far. It is suspected that there may be some accounts in which the loan amount has been taken and then deposited or closed.
Police are also including this point in the investigation. For this, it is necessary to investigate all the loans taken in this branch during the tenure of the accused senior manager. This investigation is also being done at the bank level.
If the amount of the scam increases, the case may also be handed over to CBI. According to the rules, there is a provision to hand over the investigation to CBI on financial irregularities of more than Rs 5 crore in the bank.
The financial irregularities committed by the former manager in the Gopeshwar branch involved the amount of the same accounts in which the loan limit was being operated with fake documents. Other accounts in which the loan amount was deposited have been closed. The status of such accounts will be seen. - Kamal Verma, Regional Manager, Uttarakhand Gramin Bank
Documents related to financial crimes have been sought from the Gramin Bank branch. The current officials of the bank have said to send the documents to the head office. The investigation will be taken forward after the documents are received. After receiving the documents, action will be taken by identifying the beneficiaries of the fund transfer. At present the accused manager is absconding. -Pramod Kukhswal, Investigation Officer, Senior Sub Inspector Kotwali, Gopeshwar
Also read- Uttarakhand: Former bank manager committed fraud of Rs 3.19 crore, took loan in the name of the dead also