The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a major probe into a corruption scandal involving a public sector bank in Assam. The agency's anti-corruption branch in Shillong has registered a case against a former chief manager of Canara Bank and two associates for allegedly accepting bribes to sanction loans.
Accused and Allegations Detailed
The central investigating agency has named three individuals in its First Information Report (FIR). The primary accused is Ramachandra Hansda, who served as the chief manager of Canara Bank in Assam's Hailakandi district. The other named accused is Bazar Nasim Uddin Choudhury, who is the proprietor of a firm called North East Car. A third individual remains unidentified at this stage.
According to the CBI's statement, the case stems from information provided by a reliable source. The allegation is that Hansda, while in his official capacity, conspired with Choudhury and the unknown person to commit fraud. Their alleged scheme involved taking undue advantage, or bribes, for sanctioning specific types of loans to various borrowers.
Scale of the Alleged Loan Scam
The financial scale of the alleged corruption is significant. The CBI claims that between the years 2020 and 2023, the accused facilitated the sanction of 209 e-rickshaw loans and MSME (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise) term loans. The total amount disbursed through these loans was a staggering Rs 2.78 crore.
In return for approving these loans, the informant alleged that the FIR-named accused received bribes totaling Rs 11.40 lakh. The CBI stated that this illicit money was deposited into the bank accounts of the accused, their family members, or relatives. The funds were allegedly transferred from Choudhury through the bank accounts of his own family members.
Legal Charges and Investigation Approval
The CBI has invoked serious charges in this case. After reviewing the initial information, the agency concluded it disclosed the commission of cognisable offences. Consequently, the case has been registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act), 1988, as amended in 2018, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The specific charges include criminal conspiracy, a public servant obtaining undue advantage for dishonest performance of duty, and giving undue advantage to a public servant for improper performance. The CBI also clarified that the competent authority at Canara Bank had granted prior approval under the PC Act to investigate Hansda, a necessary step for probing a serving public servant at the time.
A regular case has now been formally registered at the CBI's headquarters in Shillong. The investigation will delve deeper into the money trail, the roles of all accused, and the identification of the third unknown individual. This case highlights the ongoing vigilance against corruption in public sector banking, particularly in loan sanctioning processes meant to support small businesses and sustainable transport like e-rickshaws.
