A case of suspected fraud amounting to nearly Rs 29.83 lakh has been uncovered at an Axis Bank branch on Tardeo Road in Mumbai. The fraud involved funds being withdrawn from the bank account of a deceased account holder, Vimla Patil. Investigations by the Mumbai Police revealed that a Customer Request Form with forged signatures in the deceased customer’s name was submitted at the bank, leading to the transfer of funds through NEFT, UPI, and IMPS transactions.
The total amount allegedly siphoned off from the account was Rs 29,83,200. Axis Bank officials reported the incident to the police, resulting in the registration of a case against three individuals – Rahul Panjwani, Abhishek Verma, and Ram Pal. The case has been filed under charges of cheating and other relevant legal provisions at the Tardeo Police Station.
Mumbai Police officials stated that the investigation is ongoing, focusing on the roles of the accused and the fraudulent transactions. Authorities are looking into how the forged Customer Request Form was processed and whether the accused acted independently or in collusion with others. Additionally, they are exploring the possibility of similar fraudulent activities involving accounts of other deceased customers.
The investigation will delve into tracking the flow of funds transferred through NEFT, UPI, and IMPS transactions, aiming to identify the recipients of the fraudulent transfers. Concerns have been raised regarding the misuse of banking documents and unauthorized access to accounts of deceased customers. Police are gathering both documentary and technical evidence as part of the investigation, with further legal actions to be taken based on the probe’s outcomes.
