Placement of PNB funds: the prime accused Rijil under arrest | Popgen Tech

Two weeks after the Kozhikode Corporation’s funds from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) came to light, on Wednesday afternoon the prime suspect MP Rijil was arrested, who continued to evade arrest despite the police widening d -dragnet and issued a lookout notice.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (District Crime Branch) TA Antony said that Rijil, a senior manager at PNB’s Eranhipalam branch, who is under suspension, was caught from a hideout at Erimala in Chathamangalam panchayat, 27 km from Kozhikode city. He had been absconding since the district sessions court rejected his bail plea and granted permission for his arrest.

The case related to the diversion of crores of rupees from various accounts, including ₹ 12.69 crore of Kozhikode Corporation funds, at the bank’s Link Road branch over a period of nine months.

The City police charged Rejil under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant or banker) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code. Rejil will be presented before the Magistrate’s Court of the First Judicial Class (I) on Thursday, said Mr Antony.

Meanwhile, PNB has repaid the missing funds in the Corporation’s accounts following a decision taken by the bank’s Board of Directors which met in Delhi on Wednesday. “The bank returned the remaining ₹10.07 crore with interest. Earlier, it had returned ₹ 2.53 crore to the civic body,” Mayor Beena Philip said. The Hindu.

Mrs. Philip said that the Corporation has no plans to initiate legal action against PNB as it had dealt with the matter promptly. “The Corporation will not withdraw its accounts from PNB. However, we will request a reconciliation statement from the bank every month,” said the Mayor.

In a related development, the Kozhikode sessions court on Wednesday granted bail to the United Democratic Front councilors booked for entering the Mayor’s residence and obstructing the Corporation secretary from performing her duty . The protest was part of a protest that questioned the delay of the Corporation to notice the diversion of the fund.