Assam: Jorhat DC files FIR against Central Bank of India officials

Tinsukia: Roshani A Korati, the deputy commissioner of Assam’s Jorhat district, has filed an FIR against Central Bank of India’s Gar-Ali branch officials in connection with their alleged involvement in fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 77.80 lakh from the account of the district administration.

The development comes a week after the DC filed an FIR against Dipak Bora, a senior assistant posted at the development branch of the Jorhat DC office, who is under suspension since July 23 last year, for forging the signature of deputy commissioner and finance and accounts officer in six cheques to withdraw money from contingency and consultancy head of the city infrastructure development fund of the administration.

Speaking with EastMojo, Jorhat SP Jitmal Doley said that the police have registered a case and are investigating the matter. “We cannot reveal how many persons are involved in the conspiracy and fraud as they may get alerted,” he said.

Earlier, Jorhat police registered a case (number 3620/2019) against Bora under Sections 120(B), 409, 420, 419 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to sources, the police have clubbed both the cases and are on the lookout for Bora who is evading arrest.

Speaking with media persons, Korati said that the manner in which the money was withdrawn by forging signatures could not have been done without connivance of the bank officials. “The cheques should not have been honoured in the first place as the specimen signature in the said account was that of her predecessor, Narayan Konwar, for operating the account at the time of withdrawal.”

“The specimen signature in the account was updated on September 23, 2019 after she had intimated the bank to update the signature on September 17, 2019. However, as per bank records, Bora withdrew money before signature was updated,” Korati added.

Pointing out gross violation of norms, she asked how bank officials could pay cash against cheque without matching specimen signature. “Not just that, the bank has failed to provide the mobile number linked with the account after a notice was served on them,” Korati said, adding: “How could the account remain functional without contact number column filled in the account opening form.”

Korati said that the entire matter came to light when she applied for a cheque book to pay GST and the passbook was updated.

According to sources, a fire had broken out in room number 55, housing development branch, on the first floor of a building which is part of DC office complex in February last year. Bora was under police investigation for suspicion of his alleged involvement in which several important files and computers sets got destroyed, sources claimed.