Pune: Jewelry Worth ₹2.65 Crores Melted: PNB Manager and Jeweler Charged

Pune: Jewelry Worth ₹2.65 Crores Melted: PNB Manager and Jeweler Charged

Pune: Jewelry Worth ₹2.65 Crores Melted: PNB Manager and Jeweler Charged

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A shocking case of embezzlement has surfaced at Punjab National Bank’s Lashkar branch (near Aurora Towers Hotel on M G Road) , where gold jewellery worth Rs 2.65 crore, cash of Rs 9.5 lakh, and important documents were stolen from a locker. Yash Keshavlal Kapoor, the account holder, filed a complaint at Lashkar Police Station, alleging unauthorized access to his locker.

According to Kapoor, bank manager Naina Ajwani and others opened his locker without permission on August 13. The stolen jewellery was allegedly sold to a jewellery Satish Punjabi, who melted it down to destroy evidence. Kapoor had opened the locker two months ago and inspected it, finding the jewellery and cash in good condition.

The police have registered a case against five individuals, including Naina Ajwani, Punjab National Bank Manager, Surender Shahani, Satish Punjabi, a jewellery shop owner, and two unidentified individuals. The case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 316 (5) for abetting and conspiring to commit an offence, Section 303 (2) for dishonest concealment of property, Section 305 for abetting commission of offence by a person, Section 317 for exposure and abandonment, and Section 238 (3)(5) for protection of action taken in good faith.

The investigation is underway, with the police checking CCTV footage and questioning suspects. Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil and Assistant Commissioner Deepak Nikam visited the bank to oversee the investigation. Senior Police Inspector Girish Dighavkar stated, “We have checked CCTV footage and are investigating.”

This incident raises concerns about bank security and accountability. The police are working to recover the stolen assets and bring those responsible to justice. The case highlights the need for stricter security measures and monitoring of bank lockers to prevent such incidents in the future.

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