Bank Loan Scam Uncovered in Theog: ₹56.83 Lakh Fraud Using Fake Documents, Two Bank Officials Named as Accused
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Shimla, May 3: A major bank fraud has come to light in the Theog region near Shimla, where an individual allegedly used forged documents in the names of four others to secure fraudulent loans totaling ₹56.83 lakh. The police have registered a case under charges of fraud and criminal conspiracy against the main accused and two bank officials, one of whom is now retired.
Loans Taken Without Victims’ Knowledge
The scam surfaced when the victims began receiving notices and calls from the bank regarding loans they had no knowledge of. In their complaint, Theog residents Inder Singh, Anil Verma, Jagdish, and Harish Chauhan claimed that a man named Sanjeev Kumar from Bhalech misused their identities and forged documents to secure loans from the Sarog branch of the Bank of India.
Bank Staff Allegedly Complicit
According to the complainants, the fraud was carried out with the active collusion of the then branch manager (now retired) and the cashier. The bank officials allegedly sanctioned loans without verifying the authenticity of the documents. Sanjeev Kumar is said to have impersonated the victims and withdrawn the funds using forged signatures.
Multiple Loans Under Multiple Names
As per the complaint, in 2018, loans totaling ₹33 lakh were taken in the names of Inder Singh, his mother Asha Devi, and wife Nisha Devi. In 2019, loans of ₹8.50 lakh and ₹8 lakh were taken under the names of Anil Verma and Harish Chauhan respectively. In 2022, an auto loan was reportedly issued in the name of Jagdish, which was used to purchase a Toyota Fortuner.
FIR Filed, Investigation Underway
DSP Theog Siddharth Sharma confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Sanjeev Kumar and the two bank officials under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) following a written complaint by the victims. Preliminary investigations have pointed to negligence in document verification and possible collusion by bank staff. Authorities are now probing whether similar fraudulent loans were sanctioned using the same modus operandi.
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