Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Sub Judge/Special Mobile Magistrate, Jammu Slahuddin Ahmed has ordered investigation into a series of alleged financial fraud cases involving an employee of HDFC Bank’s Roop Nagar branch, observing that the complaints disclose cognizable offences requiring police probe.
The directions were passed by on three separate applications moved by HDFC Bank through its Manager Amit Gupta under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
In all three matters, the bank alleged that its employee, Manik Parihar, had unofficially developed contact with customers and dishonestly induced them to share confidential banking details, including ATM PINs, net-banking credentials and access to their mobile phones. The complaints further alleged that linked mobile numbers were manipulated so that SMS alerts and OTPs could be diverted, enabling unauthorized withdrawals and transfers from customer accounts.
One of the complaints related to customer Hem Raj, from whose account Rs 1 lakh was allegedly debited in two installments of Rs 50,000 each without his consent, with the amounts stated to have been transferred to accounts linked to Satyam Kumar and Priyansh Mehta. In another complaint, the bank alleged that several customers, including Surinder Kour Gupta, Ritu, Meghna Pathania, Mohinder Singh and Pooja Devi, were cheated of substantial sums after confidential details were allegedly obtained and funds were routed to accounts connected with Manik Parihar and his mother Sunita Parihar.
A third complaint concerned Bablu Kumar, whose savings and current accounts were allegedly debited by Rs 5.90 lakh in favour of unknown persons.
The bank, represented through advocates Himanshu Beotra and Bin Yameen Firdous, submitted that despite complaints made to Police Station Janipur and senior police authorities, no FIR had been registered. Action taken reports placed before the court stated that enquiry had revealed a prima facie case of cheating, criminal breach of trust and financial fraud, with bank statements reflecting suspicious debits and flow of funds into accounts allegedly associated with the accused.
After hearing counsel and perusing the material on record, the court observed that the allegations pointed to financial misappropriation and a possible wider modus operandi involving diversion and manipulation of mobile-linked banking credentials, identification of beneficiary accounts and possible involvement of other persons. The court said such issues could be properly unearthed only through police investigation and that the matter had remained stuck at the stage of preliminary enquiry for a considerable period.
Holding that the complaints warranted exercise of powers under Section 175(3) BNSS, the court directed the SHO, Police Station Janipur, to investigate the allegations and proceed in accordance with law.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
