Bank manager in Odisha fined Rs 10,000 for poor service to account holder

KORAPUT: The Koraput District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has fined the branch manager of ICICI Bank, Jeypore, on charges of deficiency in service to an account holder. The forum in its order pronounced on June 30 asked the official to pay Rs 10,000 as fine to the complainant, Basanti Behera of Jeypore, towards compensation and Rs 5,000 for litigation cost within 30 days from the date of communication of the order.
Also, the forum has directed the bank to return the deposited Rs 1 lakh of the complainant in the bank’s savings account with interest from November 15, 2016. According to Basanti’s complaint, she had opened a savings account at the ICICI bank’s, Berhampur branch, and after her marriage she shifted to Jeypore and on November 15,2016, she deposited Rs 1 lakh in the Jeypore branch of the ICICI bank, however, at the time of withdrawal of the money, the bank authorities denied of any deposits.
“On November 14, 2016, I had gone to the Jeypore branch of the ICICI Bank to deposit the amount but I was told to fulfill few formalities as my account with the bank in Berhampur has been deactivated and was not in operative condition,” said Basanti. ‘After, fulfilling all formalities to activate my account, I deposited Rs 1 lakh at the bank’s Jeypore on November 15,2016, and obtained the deposit receipt,” she added.
However, when the complainant went to the bank on April 7, 2018, to withdraw cash she was told that there is no balance in her account. ‘After, I showed my deposit receipt to the concerned branch manager, he assured me to look into the matter but to no avail,” she said. As after few reminders, the concerned bank authorities reportedly didn’t pay any heed and said that no deposit was made by the complainant and the deposit receipt she is showing is a fake one, Basanti had approached the forum to direct the bank to return her deposited Rs 1 lakh with 18% interest from November 15,2016 and to pay Rs 1 lakh towards compensation and cost of the complainant.
“After examining the case, verifying documents and recording statements, the forum comprising its president Gopal Krishna Rath and Jyoti Ranjan Pujari, member, found the concerned bank authorities guilty. After examining the facts and circumstances, it was clearly ascertained that the inactions of the bank amounts to serious deficiency in sendees and the complainant is entitled to get some compensation and cost of litigation from the opposite party,” said Rath.
Inspired By