AIT issues final notice to bank to pay dues

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14

The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) issued final notice to Central Bank of India's branch office at Dharm Singh market to pay pending rent here on Thursday. The branch was declared defaulter a few years back for not paying dues.

At present, the bank owes Rs27.31 lakh to the AIT. On Thursday, AIT chairman Dinesh Bassi issued the notice to the manager of the bank branch. In the notice, the chairman said if the bank would not deposit the pending amount within three days, the AIT would seal the bank. Dinesh Bassi said: “The branch office of the Central Bank of India at Dharam Singh Market is functioning from a rented property of the AIT. The bank has not paid its rent since 2011. When I joined as chairman, I sent a notice to the bank. On August 28, bank officials visited the Trust office and deposited Rs2 lakh. They asked for one-month time to pay remaining dues, but did not pay a single penny”.

On November 4, the AIT had issued ninth notice but bank officials did not respond. Today, the AIT has issued tenth notice to bank’s zonal manager, Chandigarh; regional manager, Jalandhar; and branch manager at Amritsar and given ultimatum of three days to pay dues.

“The bank has to pay Rs27.31 lakh within three days, failing which we will seal the bank and take further action,” said Dinesh Bassi.