Police in Karnataka have registered a major financial fraud case against a bank official accused of siphoning off lakhs of rupees from an automated teller machine (ATM) over a prolonged period. The Uppinangady police are investigating the alleged misappropriation of approximately Rs 71.4 lakh by an assistant manager of a nationalised bank in Bantwal taluk.
Details of the Alleged ATM Cash Fraud
The accused has been identified as Subrahmaniam, aged 30, a resident of Pulugujju. According to the First Information Report (FIR), he was working as an assistant manager at the bank's Perne village branch in Bantwal taluk and was entrusted with supervising ATM operations.
The core of the fraud revolves around the ATM cash replenishment process. It is alleged that between February 6, 2024, and December 16, 2025, Subrahmaniam systematically deposited less cash into the ATM than the mandated amount. Over this nearly 22-month period, the shortfall allegedly added up to a massive Rs 70.9 lakh, which he is accused of misappropriating.
Gold Theft and Sudden Disappearance
The case took a more complex turn when a separate theft was discovered. During a routine safe locker inspection on December 19, 2025, bank officials found that 4.4 grams of gold, worth approximately Rs 55,000, was missing. Investigations pointed towards the same assistant manager, who is alleged to have fraudulently taken the gold.
Upon the detection of these financial irregularities, the accused reportedly absconded on December 17, 2025, without informing the bank authorities or his colleagues. His sudden disappearance raised immediate red flags and accelerated the internal probe.
Police Case and Ongoing Investigation
The bank's regional manager, CV S Chandrashekar, recently filed a formal complaint with the Uppinangady police station. Based on this complaint, the police have registered a case under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The accused has been charged under several sections, including:
- Section 314 for dishonest misappropriation of property.
- Section 316(5) for criminal breach of trust by a public servant.
- Section 318(2) for cheating.
The total estimated value of the fraud, combining the cash misappropriation and the gold theft, stands at Rs 71.4 lakh. The police have launched a full-scale investigation to trace the accused and unravel the complete modus operandi of the fraud, which went undetected for a significant time.
This incident has raised serious questions about internal audit controls and supervision mechanisms at the bank branch, especially concerning high-value cash handling operations like ATM replenishment.
