Agra: Investigation into the missing 96 gold packets kept as collateral at the Bank of India’s Bharaul village branch in Firozabad district revealed that credit officer Dilip Kumar allegedly stole the precious metal, worth approximately Rs 5.5 crore, for online betting and gambling, police said on Friday.
Arrests Made
Dilip Kumar, former branch manager Sandeep Yadav and staff officer Naresh Kumar were arrested on Thursday and sent to 14 days’ judicial custody on Friday, Aaron SHO Rishi Kumar said. Four more accomplices—Rahul Kumar, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Ankur Singh, and Rishabh Chauhan, all residents of Shikohabad—were arrested on Friday.
Modus Operandi
During interrogation, Dilip confessed that he was addicted to online gaming and betting and began stealing the gold in April 2025, said the SHO. Instead of selling the stolen property, he allegedly pledged the gold at other banks for cash.
The bank vault operated through a double-lock system. Dilip possessed one key and allegedly persuaded branch manager Sandeep Yadav and staff officer Naresh Kumar to hand over the second key to him, in violation of banking norms. This enabled him to gradually remove the gold without raising suspicion.
Investigation Ongoing
SSP Aditya Langeh said investigators are examining whether similar irregularities occurred in the branch over a longer period and whether more people were involved.
