Sir,
This is to bring to your notice a complaint received to IHRC Kerala State Chapter from Mrs Sushmita w/o Mr Jiji residing at Chirakekunnam House,Aluvassery, Nemmara ,Palakkad Dist against State Bank Of Travancore ,Branch Nemmara. The summary of the complaint is as given below.
The complainant Sushmita has pledged few gold ornaments through Mr Unnikrishnan who was her brother in law( Loan A/c No. 67055353160 Dated03-03-2008, amount Rs 21400/-). Since Sushmita was not holding an account , she had to pledge her gold with the bank through Mr Unnikrishnan. However at the time of loan closure Mr Unnikrishnan went missing ( Missing complaint copy attached).
An overdue notice was sent by the bank on date 07-01-2011( Copy ... View More Attached). On receiving the notice Mrs Sushmita approached the bank and as per their advice paid Rs 27354/- as the complete overdue amount on 05-02-2011.She was promised the original gold by the then Branch manager Mr Narayanankutty and another field officer Mr Narayanankutty( +91 9446329189), if certain documents as per the norms of the bank can be submitted. The a/c manager at that time was Mr Sashidharan ( +91 9447838720).
The following were submitted as per the requirement of the bank within a period of three months:
a) FIR lodged in the Police Station about missing of Mr Unnikrishnan
b) Missing advertisement given in newspaper
c) Relationship Certificate issued by the village officer
d) Residential certificate by the village officer
e) A consent letter by Unnikrishnan's mother and wife duly certified by public Notary
f) A letter from a person of public eminence
However on submission of the documents mentioned Sushmitha was neither offered the gold nor the branch refused her the gold . The branch employees kept on dragging the case by giving different reasons but however maintained to give hope that she will receive the gold.
Later on field officer Mr Narayanankutty and A/c manager Mr Shashidaran told Mrs Sushmitha that the original gold was missing and eventually offered her to buy her new gold on the condition that she would not file any complaint against them . They even happened to mention that the delay caused by the bank was because the original gold was missing .
In April 2013 field officer Mr Narayanankutty and the then cashier took Mrs Sushmitha and her husband to Alathur jewellery shop and happened to purchase 34gms of gold.The then branch manager was getting transferred that day and farewell party was taking place that same evening.The bank staff took Mrs Sushmitha and her husband on the pretext that the gold will be handed over to them. However they used that opportunity to get the gold similar to the original ones.The gold was handed over to Mr Sashidaran and Mrs Sushmitha was promised that the gold will be handed over to her by the new manager taking over. Mr Sashidaran assured that he is in complete incharge and he will co-ordinate with the next manager and hand over the gold.
The next manager ( period 2013-2014)asked her to produce the Death Certificate of Mr Unnikrishnan .
When the complainant informed it was impossible to submit the same , the bank came up with new set of document in the form of missing person certificate to be produced. For getting the certificate bank staff Mr Sashidharan accompanied Jiji( Mrs Sushimithaâs husband) , Mr Radhakrishnan( Mr unnikrishnanâs brother) to Podanur police station in Coimbatore (Since he went missing from that place). The certificate was submitted to the branch.
Now the branch asked for new set of documents ie NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE from the brother and mother of Mr Unnikrishnan.The same was signed and submitted in the presence of Mr Sashidharan.
The branch staff also met Mr Unnikrishnanâs ex wife Mrs Sujatha and got her signature in a register stating that the procedure is required for handing over the gold to Mrs Sushmitha. No one is aware on the actual content in the register or for what reason the sign was taken.
After receiving the complaint of Mrs Sushmitha , IHRC officials contacted the branch for providing clarification on the case. We met the branch manager Mr Govinda on 13 Oct 2015. Initially the branch manager was reluctant to divulge any details . However on receiving of our written complaint a reply was provided by the branch( Copy attached).
Observations By IHRC:
After going through the complaint and initial enquiries the following observations are made.
a) The State Bank Of Travancore (Nemmara Branch) has mishandled the situation which has caused mental and physical harassment and financial loss to the complainant Mrs Sushmitha.
b) The branch has no intention to return the gold pledged back to the complainant.
c) The original gold was either misappropriatedView Less
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