Nanjangud: A woman, who was forging the signature of her dead younger sister and drawing her pension for ten years, has come to light lately.

Rajamma, resident of Veeradevanapura in the taluk, had died on October 7, 2007. Her elder sister Shantamma, without revealing this, was drawing her (younger sister’s) pension thus duping the Bank. Rajamma’s husband was a Central Government employee and after his death, she was making a living with her husband’s pension. The pension account was in the SBI branch. However, Shanthamma in connivance with the children of Rajamma, was drawing pension every month duping both the Government and the Bank. The surprising part is, every year, the pensioner has to personally go to the Bank and sign on the Life Certificate. How was it possible for Shanthamma to draw the pension for ten years without the Bank being aware of it? The Bank people after all these years, finally had a doubt and lodged a complaint with the Nanjangud Town Police who have registered a case and are investigating.

(The flip side is — it is a sorry sight to see the very old and infirm who are not able to climb the steps of the Banks or Government offices located in first or second floors, struggling to climb the steps with the help of their relatives to go and sign the certificates.)