Noida: An office assistant at Punjab National Bank’s Sector Pi-1 branch in Greater Noida has emerged as a key suspect in an alleged fraud being probed by CBI after CCTV footage purportedly showed her accessing colleagues’ workstations when they were away from their desks.The bank suspects that Deepanshi Sharma, who has worked at the branch since 2021, used the login credentials of six bank officials to alter customer details and transfer funds without authorisation. In its complaint, PNB alleged that Sharma used the credentials of branch manager Nisha Tirkey, senior customer service associate Sandeep Prakash Sharma, customer service associates Meenakshi and Satish Kumar, and officials Shailendra Kumar and Lovely Jain. According to the complaint, a review of CCTV footage over nearly a month showed Sharma moving to colleagues’ desks whenever they stepped away, accessing their computers and leaving within seconds.The alleged fraud came to light on Sept 16 when a customer, Sangeeta, visited the branch to update her passbook and noticed three transactions she claimed she had neither authorised nor been informed about. When the matter reached branch management, Sharma allegedly offered varying explanations for the transactions. The bank was unable to trace the corresponding vouchers, prompting a deeper inquiry.Investigators suspect the fraud extended beyond savings accounts. The complaint alleges that account-holder Ashutosh Kumar Pathak and others were added as joint holders to multiple fixed deposits, account details for receiving maturity proceeds were altered and deposits were prematurely closed. PNB has reportedly submitted details of 49 fixed deposits under scrutiny.Preliminary inquiry suggests that a substantial portion of the money moved through six accounts in Jharkhand, Goa and Maharashtra before reaching an account linked to Pathak, a resident of Aichhar. The complaint also names Pradeep Kumar, Membangti Devi, Priyanka Kumari, Shanti Devi, Shalini and Saroj Devi as beneficiaries. CBI’s Ghaziabad Anti-Corruption Branch registered the case on the bank’s complaint. PNB has estimated the unauthorised withdrawals at Rs 10.2 crore, subject to reconciliation.
The bank suspects that Deepanshi Sharma, who has worked at the branch since 2021, used the login credentials of six bank officials to alter customer details and transfer funds without authorisation. In its complaint, PNB alleged that Sharma used the credentials of branch manager Nisha Tirkey, senior customer service associate Sandeep Prakash Sharma, customer service associates Meenakshi and Satish Kumar, and officials Shailendra Kumar and Lovely Jain. According to the complaint, a review of CCTV footage over nearly a month showed Sharma moving to colleagues’ desks whenever they stepped away, accessing their computers and leaving within seconds
