Bank manager draws over ₹1 crore of customers' cash

ANANTAPUR: The branch manager of the State Bank of India (SBI), Rayadurgam branch, has allegedly withdrawn more than ₹1 crore from the accounts of different customers.

The issue came to light when the SBI regional manager received complaints from customers and verified their accounts and transactions.

Sources said the manager Phani Kumar identified customers with huge deposits in the bank, whose mobile phones had not been linked with their accounts. He then zeroed in on customers who did not visit the branch frequently.

It is stated Phani Kumar started withdrawing amounts from accounts of customers he had identified by using fake signatures and transferring amounts into his and his family members’ accounts.

The manager had first withdrawn ₹20 lakh in December last. Recently, he withdrew more than ₹1 crore from various accounts.

Following complaints from customers, SBI regional manager Venkateswar Rao verified the records and found that Phani Kumar had withdrawn at least ₹1.06 crore from accounts of the bank’s customers.

Venkateswar Rao lodged a complaint with Rayadurgam police, who have registered a case.