BICHOLIM: Bicholim police on Thursday arrested the Sanquelim branch manager of Maharashtra Vikas Sewa Society, Anasaheb Rane and accountant Prakash Malik for committing fraud of the golden ornaments that were mortgaged by the people in the society.
Police arrested the duo after their anticipatory bail application was dismissed.
On October 17, police had arrested Sandesh Dicholkar, a peon of the society, following the complaints from around 200 depositors. Police had also booked cases against Branch Manager Rane and Accountant Malik for their alleged involvement in the fraud along with the peon. However, police could not arrest the duo as they had obtained interim bail after filing anticipatory bail application.
About four days ago, their anticipatory bail application was dismissed; thereafter, the police arrested them. Accountant Malik was arrested on next day. While the branch manager, who was in hiding, surrendered to the police on Thursday. Presently peon is in judicial custody.
Bicholim PI Sanjay Dalvi informed that the fraud came to light during an audit, wherein auditors found cash difference of Rs 33 lakh. Later, the scam of gold ornaments also came to light.
The trio used to mortgage gold ornaments mortgaged by the loanees to with other banks and borrowed money for themselves. Police have recovered gold ornaments of 31 customers kept by the trio in different banks. Police have also disclosed possibilities of some more arrests.
PSI Kishore Ramanad is investigating the case under the guidance of PI Sanjay Dalvi.
