Bhatkal: Rs 1.5 crore fraud unearthed at SBI; Branch manager absconding

Bhatkal: Financial irregularities have been detected at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch at New English Road here. The higher officials of the bank have ordered the suspension of the branch manager of the bank, sources said.

The branch manager, Anoop Pai, is accused of siphoning off around Rs 1.5 crore kept in the system account for emergency situations. It is gathered that Pai, a native of Mangaluru, had been the branch manager at the bank for 2 years now.

The fraud came to light during the audit at the branch conducted in March this year, sources said.

The branch manager Raghavendra, who replaced Pai, has raised a police complaint in this regard.

Meanwhile, Anoop Pai has been absconding. Police who visited his rented house found it to be locked.