JCCB Loan Scam: FIR not lodged despite MD’s order
VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: In a shocking act of connivance, the Branch Head of the Jammu Central Co-operative Bank (JCCB) Ltd, involved in embezzlement of Rs 2.76 Cr out of the loan advancement of Rs 4.44 Cr, got almost scot-free by far lesser action of being attached rather than facing inquiry, notwithstanding clear cut instructions from the Managing Director for registration of FIR after the fraud surfaced during routine audit.
As per reports, an FIR is yet to be lodged with the police against Abdul Karim Branch Manager, JCCB Mendhar Branch despite the orders of the Managing Director, issued on January 19, 2021, asking Subash Chander ( Cashier cum Clerk ) to file an FIR against the accused.
On June 10, 2020, two Cashier-cum-Clerks Nissar Ahmed and Subash Chander had made a written complaint vide number 41/11, addressed to General Manager (CEO) Jammu Central Co Operative Bank Ltd, Rail Head Complex Jammu against Abdul Karim Branch Manager, JCCB Mendhar Branch alleging that the officer was involved in the embezzlement of Rs.154.7 lakh.
According to the complaint, the embezzlements were being effected while sanctioning loans. As on May 29, 2020, a cumulative amount of Rs 444.61 lakh stood advanced as loans, of which Rs. 154.17 lakh was allegedly embezzled.
Mohammed Mushtaq, General Manager ( Adm) JCCB Rail Head Complex Jammu vide Order No Adm/2661-66 ordered holding of enquiry into the alleged embezzlement by Vinod Sharma, Technical officer to Managing Director and Manager Estates as Head of Enquiry.
Apart from holding the charge of Estates, Vinod Sharma was also assigned the job of monitoring the affairs of the Bank in Poonch district. Vide order 5068-12 of September 11, 2020 issued by Chief Manager ( I&V) JCCB Ltd Sehkari Bhawan Rail Head Complex Jammu, the erring Manager Abdul Karim was attached with the Poonch Branch till a senior officer is deputed. Subash Chander Cashier cum Clerk was asked to look after the work of the Mendhar Branch .
The preliminary enquiry report was submitted on December 21, 2020 to General Manager ( Adm) of JCCB Lt Jammu, duly signed by Vinod Kumar Sharma ( Head of Enquiry), Anil Kumar Bakshi ( Member) and Darshan Kumar ( Member) wherein it was reported that the amount embezzled was actually Rs 2,76,89913 and not Rs. 154.17 Cr.
The report stated that the accused Abdul Karim had accepted in a statement before Enquiry Panel that he was responsible for the act and had embezzled Rs 2,76,89,913.00.
The Enquiry committee recommended that as the case also involved forgery and cheating, the competent authority may get the matter investigated from any investigating agency to arrive at exact amount of embezzlement. It also recommended that a team be deputed for auditing all accounts of branch since the embezzlement may be of the larger scale.
The JCCB management on January 19, 2021 directed the official holding the charge of Mendhar Branch Subash Chander ( Cashier cum Clerk ) to file an FIR with local police against the accused Abdul Karim but till date no such complaint or FIR has been lodged.
The JCCB Ltd is one of the financially sick institutions where it is alleged that even the normal promotions and increments in time are refused and delayed to the employees pleading financial sickness but the present Bank management has not shown any serious effort for recovering the embezzled amount as high as Rs. 2,76,89913.00 which is a very large amount as per the standards of a bank like JCCB Ltd.
