Car Nicobar: A major case of alleged financial fraud has surfaced from Car Nicobar after more than Rs 15 lakh was reportedly withdrawn from the savings bank accounts of a local couple without their knowledge, triggering a police investigation into suspected misappropriation and forgery involving a staff member of the Andaman Nicobar State Cooperative Bank (ANSC Bank). The case was registered at Car Nicobar Police Station following a complaint lodged by Ranjit Lakra, a resident of Nukkad Basti and an Assistant Pipe Fitter with the APWD. Lakra alleged that unauthorized withdrawals were carried out from both his and his wife Phool Kumari’s bank accounts over an extended period.
According to the FIR, the alleged fraud came to light on May 2, 2026, when the couple visited the Car Nicobar branch of ANSC Bank to withdraw Rs 1 lakh from Phool Kumari’s account. They were reportedly shocked to learn that only Rs 32,000 remained in the account.
Subsequent verification of transaction records allegedly revealed that Rs 4.74 lakh had been withdrawn through multiple suspicious transactions between November 27, 2024 and February 6, 2025, and transferred to various individuals without the account holder’s authorization.
Lakra further claimed that when he checked his own account, he discovered that only Rs 6,363 was left. Bank records allegedly showed that Rs 10.74 lakh had been debited from his account between April 30, 2024 and October 30, 2025 through several unauthorized transactions.
During scrutiny of beneficiary account details, the complainant alleged that the transferred money had been credited to the account of one Dorothy, who was working as a staff member at the ANSC Bank’s Car Nicobar branch at the relevant time. The complaint further alleged that forged documents, duplicate signatures or other fraudulent means may have been used to gain access to the accounts.
The FIR also stated that despite approaching the bank management earlier seeking recovery of the money and appropriate action, no satisfactory response was allegedly received. Based on the complaint, Car Nicobar Police registered FIR No. 0017/2026 on May 28, 2026 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds. Investigation into the matter is in progress.
