Udupi: The State Bank of India’s (SBI) Malpe branch reported a major financial irregularity involving an alleged misappropriation of Rs 73 lakh through forged documents. The matter came to light following communication from Piramal Finance.In a complaint, Rajesh Ganapathi, branch manager of SBI, Malpe Branch, stated that as per an email received under the name Piramal Capital & Housing Finance, on Aug 11, Rs 10 lakh was transferred to the account of J Samuda Suvarna, Nanthoor Padu, Kulasekhar, and another Rs 10 lakh to Sharmila S, Muluru, Udupi. Similarly, on Aug 14, Rs 3 lakh was transferred to Sushanth Thingalaya, Kodi village, Udupi, and on Aug 14 and Aug 16, Rs 25 lakh to M Ramanath, Bondel. On Aug 22, Rs 25 lakh was transferred to the account of Sadananda G Rao, Kunjalu, Udupi.He stated that all in all, Rs 73 lakh was transferred. It is learnt that on Aug 25, the SBI Mumbai Branch sent an email seeking details regarding these fund transfers. Accordingly, the next day, the complainant forwarded all relevant documents related to the above transfers from the Malpe branch to the Mumbai branch.However, on the same day, an official communication was received from Piramal Finance through their verified email ID, stating that their company did not submit any such request to the Malpe branch for the above fund transfers. Upon verification, it was found that the then branch manager Meera Pallavi TH, along with the above-mentioned account holders and others, allegedly created forged documents and misappropriated bank funds, thereby committing criminal breach of trust and fraud against the bank.In this regard, a case has been registered at Malpe police station, under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 316(5), 318(4), along with 3(5) of the BNS, and an investigation is on.
