03 December,2010 07:59 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
Police on lookout for collection agent who cheated Pune Sahakari Bank of R8 lakh by developing duplicate machine to issue fake receipts to customers
The Shivajinagar police have booked a 40-year-old man who worked as a collection agent with the Pune Sahakari Bank in a cheating case. He developed a dummy machine to issue fake receipts to customers and duped the bank to the tune of Rs 8 lakh.
The suspect has been identified as Mohammad Rafik Razzak Shaikh (40), a resident of Ramnagar in Sangamwadi. Shivajinagar police searched for Shaikh but he is now absconding.
The police are on the lookout for Shaikh.
Shaikh has been charged under sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code.
Scam uncovered
The incident came to light after Hiamati Mirza, a customer from Wanawadi complained to the bank that the money collected by Shaikh was not deposited in the bank.
Acting upon the complaint, branch manager of Pune Sahakari Bank, Madhav Nadkarni (60), approached the police and registered the case.
According to Nadkarni, "As per procedure, Shaikh was appointed from September 9, 2009, as a collection agent for the purpose of collection of money from customers. He was regularly collecting money from customers and depositing it in the bank."
"Every collection agent is given a machine to issue receipts to the customer. For every transaction the agents are paid a commission of 2.5 percent," Nadkarni stated.
On the run
Police Sub-Inspector Karpe, who is investigating the case said, "Shaikh has reportedly used a duplicate machine to issue fake receipts to his customers and duped the bank. Shaikh was not present at his residence and is now absconding."
