Dhanbad police have lodged an FIR and launched an investigation into an alleged fraudulent attempt to withdraw over Rs 31 crore from the bank account of businessman Mahesh Pradhan. The incident came to light after the bank detected irregularities and alerted the account holder.
Details of the Fraud Attempt
According to the complaint, the bank account of Pradhan's firm, maintained at a private bank, had been inactive and closed for a long period. On April 2, he received information that two high-value cheques totaling over Rs 31 crore had been presented for clearance through a public sector bank. Pradhan stated that he had never issued such cheques. Upon verifying the cheque book, he found that two leaves were missing. He alleged that unknown persons had stolen the cheques and deposited them in the bank using forged signatures. However, the transaction could not be completed as the account was already closed and the signatures did not match the bank records.
Police Action
Two days ago, Dhanbad police lodged an FIR based on a preliminary complaint from the victim on April 2, officials said on Wednesday. Officer Manoj Pandey said that after a preliminary probe, they converted the complaint into an FIR. “Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the attempted financial fraud,” he said.
The police are now investigating the case to trace the culprits who attempted to siphon off such a large amount. The bank has also been asked to provide all relevant records to assist in the investigation. The case highlights the need for vigilance in banking transactions and the importance of timely reporting of suspicious activities.
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