` 2.77 cr ‘stolen’ from Central Bank in Deoria

GORAKHPUR: A sum of over Rs 2.77 crore was found to have been allegedly stolen from the Central Bank of India’s main branch at Ansari Road in Deoria on Saturday. Vinod Kumar Singh, the currency chest in-charge of the bank, lodged an FIR with the police in this connection.

Inspector general of police Amitabh Yash led a police team that reached the spot soon after receiving information about the missing cash. The police checked the CCTV footage, counted the money and found over Rs 2.77 crore was indeed missing.

The police found one of the CCTV cameras was not working. It had received no feed in the last two months, said Yash.

Prima facie, the police are suspecting the role of a constable Sri Prakash Singh who was supposed to be on guard duty at the bank but was missing on Saturday. Two persons, including a securityman, have been suspended.

Superintendent of police Manoj Kumar said that on

COPS ARE SUSPECTING ROLE OF CONSTABLE SRI PRAKASH SINGH WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON GUARD DUTY AT THE BANK BUT WAS MISSING

March 31, the bank employees instead of keeping the money in the chest, had put it in a box and left for the day.

When the bank re-opened on Saturday after three days, Vinod found that a net near the currency chest and the lock of a cash box were broken.

The IG said the cash should have been kept in the chest and not in the box at an unsafe place.

On his part, the SP also said that features of the man seen in the CCTV footage of the remaining cameras matched with that of the missing policeman.

It seemed he had ventured into the currency chest area though he was not authorised to do so.