Sonepur: Sonepur police have arrested 7 persons for allegedly borrowing Rs 52.83 lakh from a public sector bank by mortgaging fake gold.
The accused include a man, his son, and a goldsmith. The role of a former bank PO is also suspected in the fraud. The fraud has taken place at the Sonepur branch of the Bank of Baroda.
The accused have been identified as Iswar Saraf (58), his son Surendra Saraf (27) Anjan Sa (37), Hazaru Sahu (65) all of Silati under Binika police limits; Daktar Seth (45) of Cherupali under Dungripali police limits; Ramchandra Bania alias Ram (30) of Rushuda under Bheden police limits in Bargarh district and Jai Narayan Maharana (63) of Ghodaghatpada of Sonepur, the goldsmith who had certified the purity of the mortgaged gold.
Another person Ramkumar Meher (44) of Icchapur (Chadeipanka) under Ulunda police limits has been allowed to let go under section 41 of CrPC instead of being arrested for having repaid the loan.
Addressing a presser at the Sonepur police station here today, Subarnapur SP Amaresh Panda said that around 10 persons had availed loans amounting to Rs 52,83,0100 from the local branch of Bank of Baroda by mortgaging fake gold while claiming it to be genuine.
Ten persons had taken loans 65 times by mortgaging fake gold. The fraud came to light on August 6 this year during a special audit of the Sonepur branch of Bank of Baroda.
Similarly, the role of former PO of the Sonepur branch of Bank of Baroda Soumya Ranjan Chopdar who had sanctioned the loans has come under suspicion. He has been also brought under the purview of the investigation. A notice will be served to him soon in this connection, Panda informed.
The other three accused in this case will be arrested very soon, Panda added.
Based on a written complaint lodged by the Senior Branch Manager of Bank of Baroda, Sonepur branch Jagneswar Samal a case was filed at the Sonepur police station on December 3 this year under sections 420, 468, 471, and 120B of IPC.
The accused were forwarded to court today, the SP said.
