Lakhs go missing from NRI’s HDFC account

Anil Mehndiratta,a resident of Green Park,Ambala Cantonment,who works as a software engineer in the US said he had deposited lakhs of rupees in a fixed deposit (FD) with the bank and had over Rs 1.4 crore in his account after the FD matured last November. When he went to withdraw the money he realised only Rs 52 lakh was there in his account. On enquiring the bank officials said Rs 50 lakh was withdrawn through cheques issued in his name.

He,however,denied having withdrawn any amount through a cheque.

Meanwhile,the police have started investigation and have questioned bank officials,including the manager.

Mehdiratta said he was to catch his flight for the US on Friday,but got his ticket cancelled after being assured by the bank that the matter will be settled in three days.

It was learnt that some officials of the HDFC in connivance with a Kharar-based bank employee,a former manager with Centurian Bank,Sector 9,Chandigarh,which was later merged with HDFC,committed the crime. He prepared a fake cheque book through which he encashed the money from a fake account against cheques issued in the name of Mehndiratta.

HDFC PRO Tripurari said lakhs of rupees were missing from the account of Mehdiratta and an investigation into the matter had been ordered with approval from the Bombay headquarters of the bank.