Chhapora: Fake SBI Branch ! In recent years, multiple fraud cases have surfaced involving bank transactions, the use of fake documents, and other financial scams.

However, a recent incident in Chhattisgarh has drawn attention for being one of the most elaborate scams ever seen.

In a plot straight out of a movie, fraudsters established a fake branch of the State Bank of India (SBI), making false appointments, conducting fake training sessions, and deceiving not only job seekers but also local villagers.

Approximately 250 kilometers away from the state capital Raipur, in a small village named Chhapora in the Sakti district, six people were employed in what they believed were legitimate positions at SBI (Fake SBI Branch).

The fake branch, which opened just 10 days prior to being exposed, appeared authentic with new furniture, official-looking papers, and fully functional counters.

Villagers, completely unaware of the scam, began visiting the branch to open new accounts and conduct transactions.

The newly appointed employees were equally excited to have secured positions at a reputed bank like SBI.

The facade continued until September 27th, when senior police officials, along with SBI representatives, visited the branch for an inquiry.

Their visit was prompted by suspicions raised by the manager of the nearby Dabra branch, which ultimately revealed that the Chhapora “branch” was a complete sham and all appointments were fake.

“The Dabra branch manager informed us about a potential fake bank operating in Chhapora.

Upon further investigation, we confirmed it was a fraudulent setup, and several employees were recruited using counterfeit documents,” said senior police officer Rajesh Patel.

Four suspects have been identified so far, including Rekha Sahu, Mandir Das, and Pankaj, who acted as the manager of the fake branch.

Employees Were Issued Fake Offer Letters

The fake bank offered employment to several individuals, issuing offer letters that appeared genuine.

Job titles such as managers, marketing officers, cashiers, and computer operators were assigned, and recruits were even given training sessions.

However, these jobs came at a hefty price, with recruits paying anywhere from ₹2 lakh to ₹6 lakh to secure positions.

The main perpetrator behind the scam collected significant sums from these job seekers, promising them lucrative positions in a reputed organization.

Ajay Kumar Agarwal, a local resident who had applied for an SBI kiosk in Chhapora, grew suspicious when a new SBI branch suddenly opened in the area.

His nearest legitimate branch was in Dabra, and the appearance of a new branch without any official notification seemed unusual.

Upon inquiring, he found that the bank’s employees were unable to provide adequate answers and noticed that the branch code was missing from the signboard.

Ajay’s concerns, reported to the Dabra branch manager, led to a thorough investigation and eventually exposed the elaborate fraud.

The Fake SBI Branch Operated in a Rented Building

The fraudulent SBI branch was set up in a rented building belonging to a local resident named Tosh Chandra. The rent for the premises was ₹7,000 per month.

The perpetrators furnished the branch with proper equipment and signage to make it appear authentic.

Their main targets were unemployed individuals from different districts, including Korba, Balod, Kabirdham, and Sakti.

Jyoti Yadav, one of the victims, said, “I submitted my documents and completed the biometrics, and they confirmed my joining. They promised me a salary of ₹30,000.”

Another victim, Sangeeta Kanwar, added, “They initially asked for ₹5 lakh, but I told them I couldn’t afford that much. Eventually, we agreed on ₹2.5 lakh. They promised a salary of ₹30,000 to ₹35,000.”

“Many villagers were excited about the new branch and were considering taking loans once the bank became fully operational,” said Yogesh Sahu, a local shop owner.

“If the fake bank had continued for a longer period, several people would have deposited money and could have lost crores of rupees,” said Ram Kumar Chandra, another local resident.

Many of the duped victims, who had mortgaged jewelry or taken loans to pay for the fake appointments, now face not only financial losses but also legal issues.