Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, February 4–
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested Satnam Singh and Sarabjit Singh Numberdar, both residents of Sarupwal village in Sultanpur Lodhi tehsil, for their involvement in a multi-crore scam at the State Bank of Patiala (now State Bank of India), Sultanpur Lodhi branch, district Kapurthala. The accused, in connivance with bank officials, private individuals, and officers/employees of the state Revenue Department, embezzled crores of rupees through fraudulent means.
Providing details, a VB spokesperson stated that, based on an investigation into a vigilance enquiry registered seven years ago, an FIR No. 5, dated 09-03-2017 was lodged at the Vigilance Bureau Range Jalandhar police station under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the IPC, along with Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The investigation revealed that the accused, in collusion with the branch manager and other bank employees, as well as revenue officials, fraudulently obtained loans and credit limits, siphoning money from the treasury. The inquiry established that approximately Rs 3.71 crore had been misappropriated through 14 loan files as of April 30, 2016.
Explaining the modus operandi, the spokesperson added that the accused secured bank loans using fictitious identities and fraudulent land records.