Mangaluru: The police have registered a criminal case against a 30-year-old Bank of Baroda (BoB) employee for allegedly siphoning off ₹70.86 lakh from an automated teller machine (ATM) under his supervision at the Perne branch near Mangaluru. The accused, identified as Subrahmanyam, was working as the ATM in-charge and is currently absconding, according to the complaint lodged by bank officials.
The case has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including offences related to dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust and cheating. Police officials said an investigation is underway to trace the accused and recover the misappropriated funds.
Alleged misappropriation over nearly two years
According to the complaint filed by C.V.S. Chandrashekhar, regional manager of Bank of Baroda in Mangaluru, the alleged financial irregularities occurred over an extended period, between February 6, 2024, and December 16, 2025. During this time, Subrahmanyam was entrusted with the responsibility of replenishing and managing cash deposits in the ATM attached to the Perne branch.
The complaint states that Subrahmanyam failed to deposit the exact amounts required to be loaded into the ATM on multiple occasions. By allegedly manipulating cash balances and records, he is accused of siphoning off a total sum of ₹70.86 lakh. The discrepancy reportedly came to light during routine internal checks and reconciliation of ATM cash balances conducted by the bank.
Missing gold jewellery discovered during inspection
Following the detection of the alleged cash misappropriation, senior officials of the bank initiated a detailed inspection of safe lockers and other secured facilities linked to the branch. During this inspection, bank officials found that 4.400 grams of gold jewellery, valued at approximately ₹55,000, were also missing.
The missing jewellery has further strengthened suspicions against the accused, police sources said. Investigators are examining whether the gold belonged to the bank, a customer, or was kept as part of seized or pledged assets. Officials are also verifying records to ascertain how and when the jewellery went missing and whether it was part of the same alleged criminal activity.
Accused absconds after irregularities surface
The complaint notes that soon after the irregularities came to light and questions were raised regarding the discrepancies, Subrahmanyam reportedly went missing. Efforts by the bank to contact him were unsuccessful, prompting the management to approach the police.
Police officials confirmed that the accused has absconded and that teams have been formed to trace his whereabouts. “We are verifying his last known locations and questioning colleagues and acquaintances. Steps are also being taken to freeze any bank accounts linked to him, if required,” a senior police officer said.
Case registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita dealing with dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust by a clerk or servant, and cheating. These offences carry stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines, if proven in court.
Investigators are also examining whether there was any lapse in internal controls or oversight mechanisms at the branch that allowed the alleged misappropriation to continue for such a long period. Bank officials, however, maintained that internal audits and inspections ultimately helped uncover the discrepancies.
Bank assures cooperation with probe
Bank of Baroda officials said the institution is extending full cooperation to the investigating agencies. “We have shared all relevant documents, transaction records and internal audit reports with the police. The bank has zero tolerance towards financial misconduct,” a senior official said.
The bank is also expected to review and strengthen its ATM management and monitoring systems to prevent similar incidents in the future. Customers have been assured that their deposits and accounts remain secure and that the alleged fraud has not impacted normal banking operations.
Conclusion
As the investigation progresses, police are hopeful of tracing the accused and recovering the siphoned amount. The case has once again highlighted the importance of robust internal checks in financial institutions, particularly in the handling of cash-intensive operations such as ATMs. Further developments are awaited as authorities intensify their search for the absconding accused.