SBI Employee in Ludhiana Faces Charges for Rs 37 Lakh Fraud Through Accounting Exploits
A veteran employee of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Ludhiana has been charged with siphoning more than Rs 37 lakh from her own branch by exploiting internal accounting loopholes. The case, which highlights vulnerabilities in banking systems, has led to her suspension and police action under serious criminal charges.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
Amandeep Kaur, a resident of Dugri who had been with the SBI's Shingar Cinema Road branch since 2013, faces charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust. The fraud was uncovered during an internal audit that revealed a trail of unauthorised withdrawals. According to police reports, Kaur allegedly manipulated the bank's internal accounting hierarchy to hide her tracks, moving money from the branch general ledger (BGL) accounts into a "system suspense" account—a temporary digital holding area typically reserved for disputed transactions—before withdrawing it as cash for personal use.
Unraveling of the Scheme
The alleged fraud began to unravel on August 26, 2025, during a routine examination of the bank's General Ledger Day (GLD) book. Former branch manager Ravinder Singh flagged a suspicious cash withdrawal of Rs 1.5 lakh from the previous day that lacked any supporting vouchers or senior approval. Further scrutiny exposed a pattern of deception, with auditors noting the absence of crucial signatures in the bank's general ledger, which initially masked the theft.
Confession and Scale of Theft
When confronted by the bank's regional office, Amandeep Kaur reportedly admitted in writing to the unauthorised transactions. Initial admissions included the withdrawal of Rs 6 lakh, of which she repaid Rs 4 lakh. However, as the internal probe deepened, the scale of the theft grew significantly. Investigators allege that Kaur eventually confessed to misappropriating an additional Rs 18 lakh through multiple transactions over an extended period, bringing the total fraud estimate to more than Rs 37.7 lakh.
Legal and Institutional Response
The SBI has suspended Amandeep Kaur and filed a formal complaint through current branch manager Kamaljit Singh. A police spokesperson stated, "The accused misused her official position to manipulate bank records and bypass standard authorization protocols." Ludhiana's Division Number 3 police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 408, for criminal breach of trust by a clerk or servant, and 420, for cheating. This incident marks a dramatic fall for a long-serving bank employee, whose 12-year career has ended in legal turmoil after allegedly using a temporary accounting "glitch" to fund a permanent lifestyle.
