Firozabad Bank Scandal: 96 Packets Of Gold Missing From Bank Of India Locker

In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through the banking sector in Uttar Pradesh, a massive gold theft has been uncovered at the Bank of India's Bharaul branch in the Firozabad district, while according to official reports, 96 packets of gold, which were pledged by customers as collateral for loans, have mysteriously vanished from the bank's high-security locker. The incident came to light after a formal investigation was initiated by the bank's regional authorities, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against three bank employees, including the former branch manager.

The Discovery of the Missing Gold

The discrepancy was first suspected when a key employee, identified as Dilip Kumar, a resident of Basgaon village in Etawah district, went missing. Dilip Kumar, who served as the primary custodian of the locker's master key, had been absent from his duties since 27 May without any prior notice or authorization. His prolonged absence severely disrupted the bank's locker-related operations, prompting the local branch officials to attempt to contact him. When all efforts to reach Dilip Kumar failed, the branch management grew suspicious and escalated the matter to the Bank of India's Regional Office in Agra.

Locker Opened Under Strict Supervision

Responding to the concerns raised by the Bharaul branch, the Regional Office dispatched a high-level security team to investigate the situation. On 15 June, Ankit, the Senior Security Manager of the Ghiror branch, and Sushil Kumar, the Senior Manager (Security), arrived at the Bharaul branch to conduct a thorough inspection. Since the primary key was unavailable due to Dilip Kumar's disappearance, the authorities arranged for a secondary key to access the locker. The entire process of opening the locker was conducted under strict protocols, including continuous videography to ensure transparency. The procedure took place in the presence of the bank's panel advocate, Shiv Kumar Sharma. Upon opening the locker, the officials were stunned to find that 96 packets of gold, specifically linked to 'Gold Loan,' were missing from their designated storage.

Legal Action and FIR Details

Following the discovery, Aditya Pratap Singh, the Chief Manager of the Bank of India's Agra Regional Office, took decisive legal action. On Wednesday night, he lodged a formal complaint at the Araon police station. The FIR names three individuals: the former branch manager Sandeep Yadav, the missing employee Dilip Kumar, and the credit officer/employee officer Naresh Kumar, who is a resident of Hathras district. While the exact weight and market value of the missing gold have not been explicitly detailed in the FIR, preliminary estimates suggest that the value of the stolen assets runs into several crores of rupees.

Police Investigation and Raids

Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe has confirmed that the police have taken cognizance of the matter and have initiated a comprehensive investigation. The Araon Station House Officer (SHO), Rishi Kumar, stated that multiple police teams, including the surveillance unit, have been mobilized to track down the accused individuals. Raids are currently being conducted at various locations across the region to apprehend the suspects and recover the missing gold packets. The police are looking into the roles of each accused employee to determine how such a significant amount of gold could be removed from a secure facility without immediate detection.