A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday convicted the then Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) branch manager in Bengaluru, assistant commandant, Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), and three others and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment ranging from four years to 10 years in a cheating case.

The Anti Corruption Branch of CBI, Chennai, investigated a case against K Sanjeeva Shetty, then branch manager, OBC, Yelahanka branch, Bengaluru; Shabir Ahmed, assistant commandant, KSRP, and other private persons including S A Ravi, Abid Khan, T Hemanth Alva, Kishore, S Anthony Doss and Abdul Jabbar.

In 2000, the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and tried to defraud OBC, overseas branch, Chennai, to the tune of Rs 9,70,90,000 with a fictitious transfer payment order.

With forged signatures of OBC officials, Yelahanka New Town branch, the transfer payment order was sent to OBC overseas branch, Chennai, against fictitious import shipping bills of Stan Plus Holdings, Malaysia, through BSN Commercial Bank, Malaysia.

The bills were for the shipment of Kamino machines with accessories for the equivalent value of $22,21,900 in favour of The West Pavilion, Devanahalli Road, Bengaluru.

After convicting the accused, the special court sentenced Ravi to undergo 10 years’ RI, five years for Sanjeeva Shetty, Shabir Ahmed and Hemanth Alva and four years’ jail for Abid Khan.

The other three private persons were acquitted. A fine of Rs 5,10,000 was imposed on them.