In a shocking and elaborate banking fraud, a group of criminals set up a fake branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Chhattisgarh, duping several unemployed individuals and local villagers of lakhs of rupees. The fraudulent operation, which unfolded like a scene from a heist movie, involved illegal appointments, fake training sessions, and meticulously designed setups to mimic the appearance of a legitimate bank. The scam came to light after the manager of a nearby SBI branch grew suspicious, leading to the involvement of police and the eventual unmasking of the fraudsters.
The Fake SBI Branch in Chhapora
The incident took place in Chhapora, a quiet village located about 250 kilometers from the state capital Raipur, within the Sakti district of Chhattisgarh. Over the span of just 10 days, fraudsters established what appeared to be a fully functional branch of SBI, India’s largest public-sector bank.
The fake branch featured all the elements of a real banking institution, from new furniture and professionally crafted paperwork to functioning counters. For the local villagers, the new branch appeared to be a welcome addition to their community, providing them with a trusted institution for transactions and other banking services.
Six unsuspecting individuals were recruited by the fraudsters for various positions in the branch, including roles such as managers, cashiers, and computer operators. These employees were ecstatic, believing they had secured jobs at a prestigious bank, with many of them already starting their duties. Unbeknownst to them, they too were victims of a larger scam.
How the Fraud Was Exposed
The scam might have continued unnoticed for much longer had it not been for the sharp instincts of a local villager, Ajay Kumar Agarwal, who had applied for an SBI kiosk in Chhapora. Ajay found it strange that a new SBI branch had opened without any official announcement, particularly when the nearest legitimate branch was located in Dabra. His concerns deepened when the staff of the new branch failed to provide convincing answers to his inquiries.
Ajay brought the matter to the attention of the Dabra branch manager, who immediately reported the suspicious activity to higher authorities. On September 27, top police officials, along with SBI representatives, visited the fake branch for an interrogation. It was during this investigation that the shocking truth emerged: the branch was entirely fake, and the staff had been hired with counterfeit appointment letters.
The Recruitment Scam
The fraudsters behind the fake branch didn’t just dupe local villagers—they also targeted unemployed individuals from various districts such as Korba, Balod, Kabirdham, and Sakti. These individuals were offered job positions in the fake branch, complete with convincing offer letters and a full training program. However, the promise of stable government jobs came with a hefty price tag.
The recruits were asked to pay anywhere between ₹2 lakh and ₹6 lakh to secure their positions. In return, they were assured monthly salaries ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹35,000. One of the victims, Jyoti Yadav, shared her experience: “I submitted my documents, completed the biometrics, and they told me my joining had been confirmed. I was promised a salary of ₹30,000.” Another victim, Sangeeta Kanwar, explained that while she had been initially asked to pay ₹5 lakh, she eventually negotiated the sum down to ₹2.5 lakh.
The fraudulent job offers added to the financial devastation of the victims. Many mortgaged jewelry, took loans, or used their life savings to pay the fees demanded by the scammers. They had been sold a dream of stable employment, only to discover that they had been part of an elaborate con.
A Mastermind’s Elaborate Setup
The fake SBI branch was set up in a rented building owned by a local resident, Tosh Chandra. The rent for the space was ₹7,000 per month. The criminals went to great lengths to make the branch look legitimate, arranging proper signage, official-looking documents, and even functioning furniture and counters. The elaborate setup fooled both the newly hired employees and the villagers, who had started using the bank for account openings and transactions.
For 10 days, the fake branch operated as if it were a real banking facility. Villagers, unaware of the scam, were excited about the prospect of having an SBI branch in their village. Some were even planning to apply for loans and other financial services, which could have led to much greater financial losses had the fraud gone undetected for longer.
Legal and Financial Fallout
The exposure of the fake branch left not only the employees but also many local villagers in financial ruin. Several individuals who had been duped into paying for fake job appointments now face legal and financial difficulties. The victims are struggling to cope with the fallout, especially since many had taken loans or sold valuable assets to pay the fraudsters.
Local shop owner Yogesh Sahu remarked, “Many villagers were excited about the new branch and had even considered taking loans once the bank became fully operational.” Another villager, Ram Kumar Chandra, reflected on the larger potential damage: “If the fake bank had continued, many people would have deposited money and could have been cheated out of crores.”
Investigation and Arrests
As of now, police have identified four suspects involved in the scam, including key individuals such as Rekha Sahu, Mandir Das, and Pankaj, who posed as the manager of the fake SBI branch. According to Rajesh Patel, “The accused seem to be connected, and further investigations are underway.”
The exposure of this audacious fraud serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which scammers will go to exploit vulnerable people. The victims, many of them unemployed and in search of stable employment, are now grappling with the emotional and financial aftermath of being deceived by a highly sophisticated scheme.
(With inputs from agencies)
