Impersonators siphon off 6.95cr from Bank of India | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The CBI has registered an FIR and launched a full-fledged probe into a Rs 6.95-crore fraud involving the Bank of India and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation, after it emerged that public funds were siphoned off using forged documents and impersonation. The case pertains to the Sadar Branch of Bank of India in Lucknow, where a fake savings bank account was allegedly opened in the name of the UPFC.CBI sources said searches have been initiated at locations linked to the accused and beneficiary entities as part of the investigation. The case stems from a written complaint dated Jan 13, 2026, submitted by Anwar Jamal, the deputy zonal Manager, Bank of India, based on information provided by Sher Singh Kushwaha, branch manager, Sadar Branch. How the fraud was executed: CBI officials said the accused induced the bank to believe that UPFC was planning a bulk fixed deposit auction and that Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna was an authorised representative empowered to open and operate a bank account on behalf of the corporation. To support their claim, the accused submitted forged KYC documents, a fabricated PAN card copy of UPFC, a forged GST registration certificate, and a fake board resolution dated Dec 19, 2025, purportedly authorising Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna to open and operate the account. Relying on these documents, the bank opened a Savings Bank Account in the name of “UP Forest Corporation” on Dec 22, 2025. Investigators say the account was created solely to facilitate the fraud. On Dec 26, 2025, Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna visited the branch and collected a cheque book containing 25 leaves, which was handed over to him against acknowledgement in the cheque issue register.Rs 64.82 crore credited, Rs 6.95 crore siphoned off: On Jan 1, 2026, an amount of Rs64.82 crore was credited to the official account of the bank which also a confirmatory email from UPFC’s official email ID (cao@upfc.in) seeking creation of a fixed deposit receipt (FDR) of Rs64.82 crore in favour of the managing director, UP Forest Corporation, for one year. However, on Jan 2, Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna allegedly submitted another forged letter requesting issuance of two FDRs — one of Rs 6.82 crore and another of Rs 58 crore. He also requested that the FDR certificate be handed over to him and submitted a form to change the registered mobile number of the account to a number under his control. After the changes were made, Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna fraudulently transferred Rs 6.95 crore through RTGS to six beneficiary accounts based in Kolkata and New Delhi between Jan 2 and Jan 5.Beneficiary firms under scanner: CBI officials said the beneficiary entities include World Foods Group, Maple Crest Life Sciences, Steel Mart India, Save Tecno Infracon and Engineers, Ankraj Nirman Pvt. Ltd., and All Dream Destination Pvt. Ltd. These firms collectively received Rs 6.95 crore through allegedly RTGS requests submitted by the accused. The fraud came to light on Jan 5 when actual officers of UP Forest Corporation approached the bank to know about the status of FD and informed it that no employee named Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna existed in the corporation and that UPFC had neither authorised him nor opened any such savings account.Case registered, probe underway: Based on the complaint, the CBI found prima facie evidence of offences under Section 61(2) read with Sections of BNS 204 (personating as public servant), 316 (breach of trust), 318 (cheating), 336 (forgery), 340 (dishonestly using forged document) and under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).The case has been filed against Anees alias Manish, Deepak Sanjeev Suvarna, unknown public servants of Bank of India, Sadar Branch, unknown officials of UP Forest Corporation, and other unidentified persons. CBI sources said they conducted searches at the premises of the accused in Delhi and NCR and the probe is on while accused are on the run.