Speaking to media persons, Rajesh, one of the activists, alleged that the bank is yet to return gold belonging to about 85 persons, pledged in the bank. “The customers demand a sum of Rs 1,500 per gram for the gold they lost,” he said and added that the Bank has assured to take a decision in this regard by Saturday.

However, when contacted, Prof M B Puranik, one of the directors of the Bank, said that the bank has compensated the customers by paying a sum of Rs 1,000 per gram, though the bank had insured the gold at Rs 800 per gram. “There are about 15 persons, who demand the same gold they pledged with the bank,” he said and added: “How can we return the gold which was stolen. If we find the same, we will return.”

“We have compensated the customers, though we did not get a penny from the insurance company till date,” Prof Puranik and Bank General Manager Ravindra added.

It may be recalled that miscreants broke open the safe locker of Sri Laxmi co-operative bank at Nagori on February 5, 2009, and had decamped with cash and gold jewellery all worth Rs 56,38,996.  They had taken away 6.869 kilogram of gold jewellery (pledged by customers for loan) and Rs 1,43,796 in cash. The total value of the stolen booty was estimated to be Rs 56,38,996 (at the time of robbery).