Massive Theft of 15 Million Rupees Shakes Everest Bank's Itahari Branch, 9 Arrested

Nepal: In a shocking incident, the Itahari branch of Everest Bank has been hit by a major theft, with a staggering amount of 15 million 23 thousand 434 rupees stolen from the accounts of savers. The theft occurred over a period of five months, during which 33 customers fell victim to the fraudulent scheme. The local police have taken swift action and apprehended nine individuals, including seven bank employees and the branch manager, in connection with the crime.

 

                     photo: social media

According to DSP Rajkumar Rai, spokesperson of the District Police Office in Sunsari, the stolen funds were withdrawn a total of 59 times through Connect IPS, a popular payment system, during the five-month period. The thieves employed various tactics, including stealing customers' Connect IPS login credentials and utilizing inactive accounts and fake checks within the bank's Core Banking System (CBS) to carry out the illegal transactions. The investigation has also revealed that the stolen funds were transferred to accounts in different banks.

 

The individuals charged with the theft include 42-year-old Vishwaraj Shakya, the Itahari branch manager from Sindhupalchok Bahrvise-8, along with other bank employees: 34-year-old Niraj Pradhan, the operation in-charge of the Udaipur Gaighat branch; 37-year-old Tura Lama, the supervisor of Everest Bank's Itahari branch; 27-year-old junior assistants Manoj Ghimire, Devraj Sharma, Ranjit Pandit, and Pavitra Katuwal. Additionally, two individuals, 34-year-old Shankar Bhujel from Mithila Municipality-11 in Dhanusha and 27-year-old Ajay Khiuju from Suryavinayak Municipality-2 in Bhaktapur, have also been arrested for their involvement.

 

DSP Rai revealed that Pradhan, who was initially stationed at the Itahari branch but transferred to Gaighat, orchestrated the scheme. Over the course of five months, from November 14, 2022, to March 31, 2023, Pradhan managed to withdraw a total of 1 crore 14 lakh 75 thousand 284 rupees through Connect IPS, using fake cheques to withdraw an additional 35 lakh 48 thousand 150 rupees.

 

It has been reported that the largest amount withdrawn from a single account was 7 lakhs, and the thefts went unnoticed by the bank's accountants. The investigation was initiated after customers reported missing funds from their accounts, prompting the bank to request a police investigation.

 

The arrest of Pradhan, the operation in-charge at the Gaighat branch, led the police to uncover an organized network operating within the bank. As a result, on Friday afternoon, six employees from the Itahari branch, including the branch manager, were arrested. Bhujel and Khiuju, who assisted in the theft, were also apprehended on separate occasions.

 

The arrested individuals are currently being investigated for their involvement in banking offenses and organized crime. The authorities have extended the deadline for the investigation to ensure a thorough examination of the case.

 

This incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised concerns about the security and integrity of banking systems. The police are continuing their efforts to gather evidence and bring all the responsible individuals to justice, providing a sense of justice and reassurance to the affected savers and the public at large.