On February 1, a man identifying himself as Paramjeet Singh, accompanied by two others, visited a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Kharar and withdrew ₹10 lakh in cash from an account. However, the real Paramjeet Singh only discovered the unauthorized withdrawal later that evening and reported it to the bank manager. The next day, the bank reviewed CCTV footage, which showed that the person who withdrew the money was not the actual account holder. The footage clearly captured the faces of the three individuals involved in the fraud.
In response, PNB has credited the ₹10 lakh back into the victim’s account with the approval of its circle branch. The bank has also filed a formal complaint against the three unknown suspects with the local police. A case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation is ongoing.
The incident is seen as a shocking case of identity theft, where the fraudsters successfully impersonated the account holder and carried out the unauthorized withdrawal. The case highlights the need for banks and financial institutions to take robust measures to prevent such frauds and ensure the safety and security of their customers’ accounts. The police investigation aims to identify and apprehend the three suspects and bring them to justice.