96 Packets of Pledged Gold Go Missing From Bank of India Locker in Firozabad

Police have launched an investigation after 96 packets of gold pledged by customers as collateral for loans allegedly went missing from a Bank of India branch locker in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district. The missing valuables are suspected to be worth several crores of rupees, though officials have not yet disclosed their exact weight or value.

According to police, the incident came to light after bank employee and key custodian Dilip Kumar, a resident of Etawah district, went absent without informing the branch from May 27 onward. His unexplained absence halted locker-related operations and raised suspicion among bank officials.

When repeated attempts to contact him failed, the matter was escalated to the Bank of India's regional office in Agra. On June 15, senior security manager Ankit and Ghiror branch senior manager (security) Sushil Kumar visited the Bharaul branch to inspect the locker.

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A duplicate key was arranged, and the locker was opened in the presence of the bank's panel advocate, Shiv Kumar Sharma, with the entire process being video recorded. During the inspection, officials discovered that 96 packets containing gold pledged by customers against loans were missing.

Following the discovery, Agra regional office chief manager Aditya Pratap Singh filed an FIR at the Araon police station against three bank employees, including the then branch manager. The accused are former branch manager Sandeep Yadav, staff officer and key custodian Dilip Kumar, and credit officer/staff officer Naresh Kumar, a resident of Hathras district.

The case has been registered under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with criminal breach of trust. Police have formed multiple teams, including a surveillance unit, and conducted raids at several locations to trace the accused and recover the missing gold.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing, and further details regarding the value of the missing gold and the circumstances surrounding its disappearance are expected to emerge as the inquiry progresses.

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