In Punjab's Faridkot, SBI begins returning defrauded money in Rs 15-crore scam

In a major relief for depositors, the State Bank of India (SBI) has begun returning money to customers defrauded in the Rs 15-crore scam at its Sadiq branch in the district.

On the first day of repayment, Rs 25 lakh was refunded, with officials assuring that all affected customers will get their money back within three months.

The repayment follows weeks of protest led by the Kirti Kisan Union, which launched a continuous sit-in on July 23 demanding justice for depositors. The agitation was later supported by Naujawan Bharat Sabha and BKU Lakhowal. After a written assurance from the SBI Regional Manager on July 24, the bank committed to start repayments from August 18.

Background of the scandal

The scandal came to light earlier this year when it was discovered that Amit Dhingra, a clerk at the SBI Sadiq branch, had allegedly embezzled over Rs 15 crore between 2014 and 2025 through unauthorized withdrawals, premature closures of Fixed Deposits, and manipulation of more than 130 customer accounts.

On July 30, Faridkot police arrested Dhingra from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, after a dramatic three-hour standoff. As police surrounded the building where he was hiding, Dhingra attempted to escape by climbing out of a ninth-floor window, threatening to jump. The tense scene ended only after the fire brigade and police managed to safely apprehend him. He is currently in custody and being interrogated.

Meanwhile, his wife Rupinder Kaur, accused of being a co-conspirator after investigators detected suspicious transactions worth Rs 2.30 crore in her SBI account, was denied bail by a Faridkot court. She remains in judicial custody.

The FIR in the case was registered on July 21 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Police expect further revelations as the investigation progresses.