The Jammu and Kashmir Bank was rocked by yet another huge embezzlement by its own official in a rural branch where a cashier is absconding, with Rs 22 lakh unaccounted for.
The amount pertains to a cheque presented in the Handwara branch of the JK Bank by an employee of the town’s Central Cooperative Bank on April 15, reports said.
The latter spent the entire day waiting for the cheque to be cashed, even approaching the top officers of the branch with his requests, but the cashier, Muhammad Asadullah, refused to release any money, they said.
The Cooperative Bank employee, who still holds the token issued by the branch, went to his superiors after failing to reclaim his cheque or get it en-cashed.
His manager approached the police, which conducted a raid on the branch, only to find the cashier absconding from his work.
The police seized records from the bank and also questioned the staff, including the branch manager, who is suspected to have a hand in the swindle due to his final signature in cashing a cheque.
A hunt has been launched for the missing cashier and a case registered by the police.