Balasore: A branch manager and an agent of the Jamsuli branch of the UCO Bank had allegedly swindled Rs 1.95 lakh from the savings account of a dead man.

The fraud came to light earlier this month when Padmalochan Jena, the son of deceased Parsuram Jena, went to update and activate the account that had fallen dormant following the death of his father. Balasore MP R.K. Jena is the younger son of Parsuram.

Padmalochan said his father Parsuram had a savings account at the bank's Jamsuli branch. The account was linked to a fixed deposit. Interests from the fixed deposit used to get credited to the savings account that had a deposit of about Rs 2 lakh.

"My father died on December 4, 2012. But when it went to update the passbook of the savings account, it noticed that money had been withdrawn in various phases in last year. This had left the account with about Rs 2,000," Padmalochan, who is a resident of Nadabani village under Singla police station limits, said. He immediately approached the bank that ordered an internal probe, which revealed the complicity of the two officials.

He said that between July 4 and September 1 last year, Rs 1,95,250 had been withdrawn from the account in phases. The bank's internal probe found the involvement of previous manager of the branch Md. Ashfaque Ahmed Jahan and a business agent Santanu Kumar Jena in the fraudulent activity. An FIR has been lodged against the two.

"A case under sections of forgery and cheating has been registered and the investigation is in progress," said inspector-in-charge of Singla police station. The bank's zonal manager has lodged an FIR with the police. The bank's legal advisor Pradipta Kanungo confirmed the role of the two employees in the fraud.

"Initially Rs one lakh was taken out using a withdrawal slip. The forged left thumb impression of a person was used to withdraw the money. Subsequently, the remaining amounts were withdrawn through vouchers. The account was dormant and it was made active after submitting a fake KYC," said Kanungo.

However, though the account has been activated, it kept suspended due to the fraudulent activity and ongoing investigation.

Jahan is now posted in a branch in Vishakhapatnam, while Jena has already been placed under suspension.