CBI Court sentences then Branch Manager of State Bank of Saurashtra, Naroda Road Branch, Ahmedabad and 18 private persons to 03-05 years’ Rigorous Imprisonment with total fine of Rs 15.35 lakh in a bank fraud case
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 2 January, 2025: The Special Judge for CBI cases, Court No. 01, Ahmedabad today sentenced 19 accused including Becharbhai Ganeshbhai Zala, then Branch Manager of State Bank of Saurashtra, Naroda Road Branch, Ahmedabad and 18 private persons namely Paresh Kantilal Bhagat; Atul Laxmishankar Bhatt; Mahesh Murlidhar Sabnani; Balvant Nathalal Nai; Hemant Hasmukhlal Khatri; Dinesh Manilal Joshi; Devendra Hasmukhlal Devidar; Jitendra Kantilal Patel, Jagdish Bhupendrabhai Patel, Tejas Rameshchandra Brahmbhatt; Ritesh Dhirajlal Sheth; Atul Dasharatlal Brahmbhatt; Bharat Ratilal Joshi; Kartik Harshadrai Patel; Amit Harshadrai Patel: Yogesh Harshadrai Patel; Nilesh Dilipbhai Shah: and Sinhal Nareshbhai Trivedi to Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) of three to five years with total fine of Rs. 15.35 lakh, in a bank fraud case.
CBI had registered the instant case on 18.07.2002. It was alleged that the accused Shri B.G.Zala, then Branch Manager, State Bank of Saurashtra, Naroda Road Branch, Ahmedabad entered criminal conspiracy at Ahmedabad with other private Persons with the object to cheat the State Bank of Saurashtra, Naroda Road Branch by abusing his official position as public servant in the matter of Public Housing Scheme and obtained for himself or for any other person/s, pecuniary advantage to the tune of Rs. 38.75/- lakh and caused corresponding loss to State Bank of Saurashtra, Naroda Road Branch, Ahmedabad.
After investigation, 12 separate charge-sheets were filed on various dates. Today, out of the 12 special cases, judgment on 05 cases has been pronounced.
The accused persons faced trial for the offences of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery of valuable security, forgery for the purpose of cheating, using forged document as genuine and criminal misconduct by the public servant. During trial, more than 60 prosecution witnesses were examined and relied on more than 142 documents/ exhibits in support of the charges against the accused persons.
The Learned Court found merit in charges and sentenced convicted accused accordingly.
