Kolkata, Dec 6 (FN Agency) The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday conducted searches at around 13 locations including Kolkata and Mangalore (Karnataka) at the premises of accused and others including private persons/bank officials UCO Bank), the CBI said in a statement. “ During searches, electronic evidence including mobile phones, laptops, computer systems, email archives, and debit/credit cards were recovered,” the CBI said. A case was registered on a complaint from UCO Bank against two support engineers working with UCO Bank and other unknown persons on the allegations of suspicious Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) transactions amounting to approximately Rs. 820 crore.
It was alleged that between November 10,2023 and November, 13, 2023, IMPS inward transactions originating from 14000 account holders across seven private banks were directed to 41000 account holders within UCO Bank through the IMPS channel. It was further alleged that this intricate network involved a staggering 8,53,049 transactions and these transactions were mistakenly posted in the UCO Bank account-holders’ records, despite the originating banks registering failed transactions. Consequently, an approximate sum of Rs. 820 crore was allegedly found its way into UCO Bank accounts without proper debits from the originating banks’ account holders, the Central Bureau of Investigation said. It was also alleged that several account holders exploited this situation, illicitly withdrawing funds from UCO Bank through various banking channels, thereby benefiting wrongfully from the transaction. The probe is underway, the federal agency said.