Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter OH! ANOTHER BANK FRAUD BANK USES A CUSTOMERS DEPOSIT MONEY FOR OVER A MONTH

 FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 OH! ANOTHER BANK FRAUD 

 BANK USES A CUSTOMERS DEPOSIT MONEY FOR OVER A MONTH

 It is now common for Bank executives to approach individuals and invite them to open a Bank account with their employer Bank. And further, the existing customers are also encouraged and induced to open additional savings and other accounts more for the benefit of the executives and their employer Bank. 

 LATEST VICTIM 

 Mohammed Abdulla, 50 years old businessman from S.P road was approached by Raghavendra, the executive of Kotak Mahendra Bank, Kasturba Road branch who invited him to open a Savings Bank Account with Zero balance facility. The executive Raghvendra who was following him continuously finally succeeded in convincing him and Mohammed issued a Cheque of Rupees 10,000/= as deposit for his new Savings Bank Account. The cheque he issued was from his Amanath Bank Account of dated 29/07/2010 and the same was debited on date 17-08-2010. 

 I WILL VERIFY & INFORM YOU

 Mohammed then started enquiring about his new Savings Bank account with the Bank. However on other end Ranghvendra started evading the calls. After repeatedly calling up Raghavendra, Mohammed started sending SMS asking him to update his status or he will take legal action. Then, Raghavendra started replying his messages but would merely send one or the other excuses saying he is not in the station or would verify and inform him. 

 SEVERE FOLLOW UP 

 A month passed by and Mohammed then finally told him either to open his Savings Accounts immediately or return him his amount which was debited on 17-08-2010. But then too he didn’t get any response from Raghvendra. He finally sent him a message warning him to open the account or return the money else he will proceed with the legal action. This also didn’t make any difference and finally he approached the bank on dated 17-09-2010. 

 THE FINAL SHOW DOWN

 He contacted the Branch Manager of the Bank who told him that they had already gone through the SMS’s sent by him and had already prepared the DD for his refund amount and that also was already sent to his address. Mohammed however didn’t believe the Manager and went to the Cubbon Park Police Station to file a complaint. Initially the Police evaded the complaint, but, when he told he will contact the media they finally registered his complaint. 

 A constable then accompanied him to the bank. The Branch Manager of the Kotak Mahinder Bank along with Raghvendra & another Manager reported to the Police Station. They showed the courier receipt to the Circle Inspector and tried to convince him. However, Mohammed argued that why did they debit and use his 10000/- rupees for over a month. 

 However when TBMR contacted Circle Inspector of Cubbon Park Police Station, Mr. Jagadish, he said the case is being handled by the Sub-Inspector and asked us to call back later. However, we called up Sub-Inspector Mr. Girish, who is handling this case. He told TBMR that the Bank representatives told us that the account was not activated because Mr. Mohammed had given them a fake ID and also showed a courier receipt saying his deposit was returned to him through a Demand Draft. We have however issued him an acknowledgement for his complaint and since he said that he will approach Consumer Forum and also because the Bank representatives showed us the sent DD receipt, we have therefore not taken any further action. 

 When TBMR contacted the branch of Kotak Mahindra Bank, the Branch Manager was not available in his seat. We were directed to Mr. Raja, the Branch Operational Manager, who again diverted us to Ms Anu, the Service Manager. But, Ms Anu declined to comment and asked us to speak to the Branch Manager himself. Our repeated attempt to contact him turned futile. 

 Mr. Mohammed insists that he had issued the cheque for Rs. 10000/- on 29/07/2010 which was debited from his account on 17/08/2010. The Bank had retained my cheque for more than 15 days and must have verified my documents by then. Only then they must have presented my cheque. If they say that my ID was fake, why did they deposit my cheque? Why did they also not inform me about the same when I repeatedly followed them to start my account? Why did they again take more than a month to prepare a Demand Draft to return my amount, which on the contrary I still have not received yet?