Padra: A fresh complaint has been filed against a former State Bank of India (SBI) branch manager in connection with an alleged loan fraud at the bank’s Choksi Bazar branch in Padra, with police registering a case of breach of trust and cheating.

According to the complaint lodged by current branch manager Dilipkumar Babarbhai Bamania (48), the accused sanctioned a loan of ₹7.50 lakh in 2022 on the basis of forged documents, causing financial loss to the public sector bank.

Padra police have named Devilal Tulsiramji Suthar, proprietor of M/s Preeti Furniture and a resident of Chhani Jakatnaka in Vadodara, as the primary accused who allegedly secured the loan using false documentation and misused the mortgaged stock. The then SBI branch manager Sunilkumar J. Sinha, a resident of Siliguri in West Bengal, has been named as the second accused for allegedly approving the loan without proper verification of documents and failing to conduct mandatory post-inspection. The incident is reported to have occurred prior to July 13, 2022, and this is one of several FIRs registered against the accused manager.

Preliminary investigation suggests the two accused may have acted in a pre-planned conspiracy, resulting in financial loss to the bank. Police said efforts are underway to detain the accused, while related court proceedings and inquiry in the matter are also in progress. Further investigation is ongoing. DeshGujarat