From 2009 to 2011, Rs. 40.53 lakh diverted from a dead customer’s account; Rs. 21.04 lakh from bank’s internal account

Mysuru: A Chief Manager of State Bank of India (SBI) has been sentenced to one year in jail for misusing funds from a deceased customer’s account and the bank’s internal account, amounting to criminal breach of trust.

The First Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court, Mysuru, has also imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the officer.

According to a press release issued by Senior Assistant Public Prosecutor K. Prakash of the Principal District & Sessions Court, A.V. Kulkarni alias Aniruddh Vasanthrao Kulkarni was serving as Chief Manager at SBI’s Chamundipuram Branch.

Between May 13, 2009 and Dec. 23, 2011, Kulkarni allegedly misused his authority and diverted Rs. 40,53,000 from the account of Krishna Iyer, who had died on April 7, 2005 and Rs. 21,04,127 from the bank’s internal account. Total amount of Rs. 61,57,127 was transferred to his own and his son’s accounts with an intention to defraud the bank. Following an inquiry by senior bank officials, Kulkarni admitted to the misappropriation and repaid Rs. 62 lakh to the bank.

A case was registered at KR Police Station in city and the then Sub-Inspector Prashanth submitted a charge-sheet before the First Additional CJM Court in CC No. 360/2013. Court took cognisance of the case. After trial and arguments, Judge V. Prakash found Kulkarni guilty and, on Sept. 25, sentenced him to 1 year of rigorous imprisonment under IPC Section 409 (criminal breach of trust). Court also imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000, of which Rs. 40,000 is to be paid to the bank as compensation.

The prosecution was represented by Senior APP K. Prakash, who examined witnesses and presented arguments on behalf of the State.