A widow in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has alleged that jewellery worth around Rs 50 lakh has gone missing from her locker at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch. The incident has led to the registration of an FIR against the branch manager and unidentified staff members. According to Rashmi Arora, the complainant, she had opened a savings account at the then State Bank of Travancore branch in 2003 and was allotted Locker number 23.
After her husband’s death, Arora shifted to Lucknow and did not operate the locker for several years. However, she claimed that locker charges continued to be deducted from her account even after the merger of State Bank of Travancore with SBI. Arora visited the Swaroop Nagar branch about four months ago and was initially unable to inspect the locker, despite the charges being deducted.
On July 21, Arora deposited the locker charges and bank officials confirmed her locker number. However, she was unable to open the locker that day as she did not have the key. When she returned with the key on July 27, she allegedly found the locker completely empty. Arora accused the branch manager and staff of conspiring to misappropriate the jewellery, claiming that they initially denied the existence of her locker and only acknowledged it after she produced account documents and records showing deduction of locker charges.
An investigation was ordered by Commissioner of Police Raghubir Lal on August 6, following which Swaroop Nagar police registered an FIR on August 10 against the branch manager and unidentified employees. Police are currently examining the bank’s records, locker-related documents, and CCTV footage, and further action will be taken based on the evidence.
Station House Officer (Swaroop Nagar) Devendra Singh confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and the police are taking necessary steps to resolve the case.
