Lakhs lost because of top ICICI manager

Iwanted to open an account with the ICICI bank for which one of my friends referred me to a person named Teja. He was told that I needed some help with opening an account in his branch. The man also had a girl with him named Preeti who was working for the ICICI prudential.

They came to my clinic with the account opening forms. I told them that I have an account in another branch of ICICI bank which was currently dormant. The man advised me not to give my working number.

They pointed out that the Malakpet branch would be too far for me. They said they would provide the door step service.

They then asked me to hand over the cash to them. I did not give it to them at the time. They asked me to come to the bank.

Next day I went to the branch. I was made to sit in the manager’s cabin. Preeti was there. I had cash of `3.5 lakh I handed over to him.

He wrote the number on the slip which I was asked to fill.

Teja returned me the stamped counter foil of the pay in form.

He told me that I can come and collect the cheque book whenever I was free.

He also suggested that I open another current account in my name for the swiping machine. I agreed to his suggestion.

He came back to my clinic with the forms. I signed the same and he opened a new current account. He also made me take ICICI Prudential policies of `1.5 lakh.

At about the same time, the government demonitised the `1,00 and `500 denomination notes. I had cash of around `4.5 lakh with me in the high denomination notes after having sold my vehicle. I was a little worried and called Teja again.

He told me not to worry since it was not a problem. “You don't have to stand in the queue. Come down to Malakpet branch and call me,” he said.

When I went there, Teja suggested that I put `2.5 lakh in the savings account and `2 lakh in the current account. He again noted my account number from the system, Preeti was also there. I was again asked to fill the slip which I did. Teja gave me the two counterfoils. I came back happy.

Now I needed the money because I wanted to purchase some land.

As usual, I called Teja and asked him about the details of my two accounts. He immediately gave me the details about my current account but said he was not able to trace the savings account number.

The next day, when I called him, he again said he was unable to trace the account.

I reminded him that it was he who had opened my account. I also asked him about the `6 lack deposited. He said he could not remember.

I approached the branch manager K. Shiva Bala and explained to him the whole situation. He also tried to find out if there was a savings account in my name but was unable to trace.

One of the bank employees later told me that since Teja is the operational manager, he can stamp the counterfoils even without opening the account.

I trusted him so I gave the money to him.

I am thinking of filing a police complaint.

I gave the operations manager the cash for opening an account. He gave me the counterfoils of the pay in slip. Bur later when I inquired, my account was missing in the bank records.