Dead man withdraws Rs one lakh

Bank issued new cheque book to a man a month after his death and even allowed 7 withdrawals amounting to Rs 1.1 lakh after that

Dead man withdraws Rs one lakh

Bank issued new cheque book to a man a month after his death and even allowed 7 withdrawals amounting to Rs 1.1 lakh after that

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THE dead are supposed to leave all worldly connections behind, but Birju Gupta, it seems, has not been able to sever financial links with the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ) despite passing away in 2008.

Not only has the Mulund branch of the bank issued a new cheque book to Gupta after his death, but also allowed him to withdraw Rs 1.10 lakh in 7 installments.

Birju Gupta's son Bhupendra shows the cheque book outside the Mulund branch of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur

Gupta's son, Bhupendra, however, thinks there is a more earthly explanation to the withdrawals. He believes someone forged his father's signature to withdraw money from the account and holds the bank responsible for the mix-up.

Gupta, a welder and resident of Indira Nagar in Mulund (West), died on March 4, 2008. Bhupendra came to know that his father had an account with SBBJ just last month and was surprised to find that a new cheque book had been issued and seven withdrawals had taken place from the account since his father's death.

The passbook showed the current balance as Rs 3,310 as opposed to Rs 1.14 lakh at the time of Gupta's death. Detailed enquiry by the 19-year-old revealed that the cheque book was issued on April 24, 2008 and the first withdrawal of Rs 24,200 took place a day later. The last withdrawal was done on June 28 the same year.

"I was shocked to see the statement. Someone forged my father's signature to get the cheque book issued and to withdraw the money.

Birju Gupta passed away on March 4, 2008. The entries in the passbook show the withdrawals made after Gupta's death

Incidentally, it was also the first time a cheque book was issued to him. I met the manager, who apologised and promised to look into the matter, but did not do anything," said Bhupendra.

"I also submitted a written complaint to the bank (copy with MiD DAY), but no action was taken," he added. Bhupendra later approached Dr R R Singh, a social worker, who suggested filing a complaint with the police.

"Bhupendra has approached me and if the bank does not return the money, I will personally look in to the matter. A bank employee could also be involved in the withdrawals," said Singh.

The Other Side
"I have joined recently, but I am aware of the incident. Gupta's complaint has been sent to the bank's head office and I will take action once I receive a reply from there. We are also planning to register an FIR with the local police," said L B Maurya, who is the deputy manager of SBBJ's Mulund branch.

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