Guwahati, March 28: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two cases of bank fraud and bribery against Pinku Kumar, former branch manager of State Bank of India (SBI), Ramakrishna Nagar branch, Karimganj (now Sribhumi), and two private individuals, Sumen Paul and Jadab Paul. The cases were registered on March 25 under allegations of corruption and fraudulent loan disbursements.
The CBI Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Shillong, filed two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) under case numbers RC No. 0202025A0001 and RC No. 0202025A0002.
According to the CBI, Pinku Kumar, while serving as branch manager, conspired with middlemen to sanction and disburse Xpress Credit Loans to ineligible borrowers from 2023 to 2024. In return, bribes were allegedly collected from borrowers by the two accused middlemen and other unidentified individuals.
As part of the investigation, search operations were conducted at four locations, including Gaya (Bihar), Hailakandi (Assam) and two other locations in Silchar (Assam).
During these raids, the CBI seized a significant amount of jewellery, including gold – 481 grams, diamond – 11.11 grams and silver – 1092.80 grams.
Additionally, several incriminating documents were recovered, including transaction records linked to middlemen, invoices for high-value jewellery purchases, documents related to fraudulent Xpress Credit loans and electronic devices, including a computer SSD, mobile phone, and tablet.
CBI officials have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and further arrests or recoveries are likely as the case unfolds. The agency is now probing the extent of the fraud, the possible involvement of other bank officials, and the total financial loss incurred.
