A nationalised bank employee, Moumita Si, who was in charge of the vault at a prominent Park Street branch, was arrested along with her brother, Mithun, for allegedly stealing ornaments worth Rs 1.3 crore from a customer’s locker. The theft took place after the employee emptied the contents of the locker and used the stolen funds to purchase an SUV, install a blue beacon, and roam the city. She also opened a company with the illicit proceeds.
The pair were arrested on Friday after a month-long investigation. Police are now looking into a similar complaint involving stolen valuables of a higher value at the same bank branch.
The case was first reported on December 14, when customer Sashi Pasari filed a complaint, naming Moumita and others in an FIR. Pasari claimed that a criminal conspiracy had been hatched, resulting in the misappropriation of her gold and diamond jewelry, which was worth Rs 1.3 crore. When Pasari went to access her locker in early December, she found it empty.
Investigators immediately suspected an insider’s involvement, as it was virtually impossible for an outsider to access the heavily secured vault. Surveillance on the bank accounts of Moumita and her brother revealed large transactions, including cash deposits, gold purchases, high-end cars, and electronic gadgets. The two also used the stolen money to establish a company.