A former manager of Allahabad Bank in Hamirpur, India has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined Rs 20,000 (approximately $275 USD) for demanding and accepting a bribe. The accused, Amrit Lal Verma, was the Branch Manager of Allahabad Bank’s Jharia Branch in Hamirpur. He was accused of demanding an illegal gratification of Rs 12,000 (approximately $165 USD) as a percentage of a loan amount of Rs 3 lakh (approximately $4,100 USD) to disburse a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan to a complainant’s father.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Verma in May 2013 based on a written complaint. The CBI laid a trap and caught Verma red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 8,000 (approximately $110 USD) from the complainant. After completing the investigation, the CBI filed charges against Verma in the court of the Special Judge, CBI, Court No. 01, Lucknow. The court found Verma guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison and fined him Rs 20,000. The case is a significant example of the CBI’s efforts to crack down on corruption in the banking sector and ensure accountability among banking officials. The verdict is expected to send a strong message to other bank officials to refrain from engaging in corrupt activities and to maintain transparency and integrity in their dealings.