Thrissur: Pazhayyannur police have registered a case against an employee at the Thiruvilwamala service cooperative bank for allegedly swindling Rs 2.43 crore from the financial institution. The case was registered following a complaint received from the bank secretary Vinod Kumar against his colleague head clerk Chakkachankadu Kottattil Suneesh. The fraud was detected during a recent audit by the Cooperation department.
According to sources from the Pazhayannur police and the bank, Suneesh forged fake documents, fake signatures and pledged property documents to divert the fund.
“Suneesh diverted Rs 2.43 crore by duping the documents and signatures and pledging property documents of a total of 16 depositors. Incidentally, almost all of them are his close relatives and friends. The moment we came to know about the discrepancy, a show-cause notice was served to Suneesh. He was also suspended from service immediately. As we were not satisfied with the reply received from him, Suneesh was removed from the service. We have registered a case with the Pazhayannur police now,” said a senior officer from the bank, requesting anonymity.
At the same time, sources said the fraud came into notice when some of the investors approached the bank for withdrawing their fund.
On Saturday, an urgent director board meeting was adjourned in which the bank secretary was directed to give a detailed explanation and steps to be taken to solve the matter. The secretary is learnt to have assured the board that he will soon approach the court against the accused Vinod.
Vinod has also served previously as the In-Charge of the Pambady and Naduvathupara branches of the cooperative bank, run by the UDF-led governing body.