Red Corner notice issued for absconding bank o†cial

The Central Crime Branch of the Chennai Police has issued a ‘Red Corner’ notice for the manager of a private bank, who is absconding after swindling ₹12 crore from customers’ accounts.

Police said Patrick Hopman was a branch manager of YES Bank Private Limited in Indira Nagar, Chennai. Patrick had gone on leave after a verbal request made to his superior o¦cial on December 3, 2022. He had told the o¦cial that his father-in-law in Dubai was unwell.

A few days later, the bank started receiving multiple complaints, alleging various illegal/criminal activities carried out by Patrick while he was o¦ciating as the manager, a police complaint ¢led by the bank stated. At least ¢ve complaints were received from customers, including from Pavan Jain, Rajendran Meyyappan and his wife Banumathi Rajendran.

The FIR registered based on a complaint from the bank said only a detailed investigation by the police would reveal the extent, magnitude and the people involved in the commission of the aforesaid fraudulent activities.

Another FIR based on a complaint from Mr. Rajendran

Meyyappan and his wife said that they were non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the U.K. They had invested over ₹7.5 crore as savings and deposits at the branch, and Patrick had promised them high returns.

They alleged that their signatures had been forged by him for transferring huge sums to various individuals unknown to them. Their ¢xed deposits were pre-closed and mutual fund investments were liquidated without their knowledge while they were abroad, they alleged.

A senior police o¦cer of Bank Fraud Investigation Wing said the case was under investigation.