Sambalpur: Real Cheque, Fake Signature; Attempt to Swindle Rs. 4.17 Crore Using Forged Signatures of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Officials

Sambalpur: An attempt to fraudulently withdraw Rs. 4.17 crore using fake signatures on cheques was recently foiled in Sambalpur, thanks to the suspicion of alert bank staff.

Cheques Submitted with Forged Signatures

On May 16, two cheques totaling Rs. 4.17 crore were submitted at the Kalibadi branch of Bank of India in Sambalpur. These cheques, issued in the name of a Kolkata-based agency called N.K. Enterprises, included one for Rs. 1.93 crore and another for Rs. 2.24 crore.

The cheques appeared genuine, as they came from an official Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) cheque book and carried valid cheque numbers. However, bank officials grew suspicious due to the large amounts involved and decided to verify them.

Bank Alerts SMC, Fraud Revealed

The bank immediately contacted officials of the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation. SMC authorities confirmed that they had not issued any such cheques and denied authorizing any payment to N.K. Enterprises. This clarified that the cheques were part of a scam, and the signatures on them were forged.

Commissioner Confirms Fraud Attempt

SMC Commissioner Vedbhusan confirmed the incident and stated that the forged signatures belonged to authorized SMC officers. Even though the cheques looked authentic and matched actual cheque numbers from a real cheque book, they were never issued by the corporation.

He also revealed that, based on bank and police advice, SMC had filed a written complaint with the Town Police Station. Authorities have started investigating the matter and are taking necessary steps to prevent such frauds in the future.

Possible Inside Involvement Suspected

Since the forged cheques came from an original SMC cheque book series, suspicions have arisen about internal involvement. Many now question whether an employee from within the Municipal Corporation may have played a role in the scam. This has raised concerns of a deeper financial conspiracy.

Police Investigation Underway

Meanwhile, the Town Police have launched a full investigation. They are interrogating staff from the concerned department and reviewing CCTV footage from the date of the incident to trace who deposited the cheques.