The manager of Bank of Maharashtra’s Brahmagiri branch in Udupi has lodged a complaint against Puneet Anand Kotian, alleging that he took two gold loans worth Rs13.19 lakh by pledging fake gold ornaments.
In the complaint filed on November 3, 2025, branch manager Abhishek Gowda stated that Puneet pledged 50 grams of gold ornaments on June 18 and obtained a loan of Rs3.2 lakh. On July 2, he pledged 177.4 grams of gold ornaments and secured another loan of Rs9.9 lakh.
Upon noticing the suspicious transactions, Mr. Gowda had the pledged ornaments tested, which revealed that the gold was counterfeit. The complaint also highlighted that Puneet had attempted similar loans from other banks, prompting further investigation.
The Udupi Town Police have registered a case and initiated inquiry into the matter under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
