Bank employee steals money from account using forged cheques in Karnataka's Siddapura

Siddapura: A cooperative bank employee allegedly withdrew Rs 1.80 lakh from an elderly lady's savings account at Kodagu District Central Cooperative Bank in Siddapura.

The bank employee S P Rakshith from Sidigalale village of Somwarpet had allegedly withdrawn the amount in three installments by forging the signature of M V Nalini on the bank cheques.

Nalini, 70, is a resident of Guhya village. She had Rs 1.89 lakh in her account as on August 8, 2024.

She was reportedly not aware of it as the mobile number linked to the bank account was changed by the accused.

When she visited the bank recently to withdraw money for her treatment, it was discovered that a total of Rs 1.80 lakh had been withdrawn.

Nalini filed a complaint with the bank manager. She did not have a cheque book nor did she apply for one. The accused had obtained it without her knowledge.

Learning about the incident, she tried to end her life by consuming excess tablets. She has been admitted to Community Health Center in Siddapura, where she is undergoing treatment.

Based on a complaint by the branch Manager, a FIR has been filed at Siddapura police station.

Rakshith had allegedly withdrawn around Rs 17.10 lakh from a FD account by forging signatures of the account holder and that of the Branch Manager at the Kutta branch of Kodagu DCC Bank where he had worked earlier from 2019 to 2023. He was arrested earlier based on a complaint filed at Kutta station on December 27, 2024.