Two private persons accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation of having caused a loss of about Rs.40 lakh to a nationalised bank in conspiracy with a branch manager posted in Bangalore almost two decades ago died during trial. While the third private person was recently acquitted, a designated court sentenced the former bank official to undergo two years simple imprisonment.
Following investigations in the case, the agency had filed a charge sheet against S. Murali, the then branch manager of Syndicate Bank in the Indira Nagar area of Bangalore, and three other private persons. The four were accused of having committed offences under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, including the charges of cheating, forgery for the purpose of cheating and using forged documents as genuine.
According to the charge sheet, the CBI had then alleged that Mr. Murali while working in the Indira Nagar branch of Syndicate Bank entered into a criminal conspiracy with the other accused persons during 1993 for getting cheques of the other accused cleared despite the fact that the account in question did not have sufficient funds.
In that process, the branch manager -- who was accused of criminal misconduct -- received illegal gratification from the other accused.
Illegal clearance of the cheques helped the accused in getting back their property from the nationalised banks to which it was mortgaged. According to the CBI, the accused persons caused a wrongful loss of about Rs.40 lakh to Syndicate Bank and corresponding wrongful gain to themselves.
“The Special Judge for CBI cases, Bangalore, has found Mr. Murali guilty in the case and sentenced him to two years simple imprisonment with a fine of Rs.13,000. The court acquitted one private person, while the other two died during trial,” said a CBI spokesperson.
