**Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate Arrests Bank of India Officer in Rs 16.10 Crore Fraud Case**
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Hitesh Kumar Singla (32), a suspended staff officer of Bank of India, from Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station in connection with a Rs 16.10 crore fraud case. Singla was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and produced before the Special PMLA Court in Mumbai, which granted the ED seven days’ custody until September 23.
Singla had reportedly been absconding since the fraud came to light. He was intercepted while travelling on the Mahamana Express (Train No. 19320) from Ujjain to Veraval. ED officials revealed that the accused attempted to evade arrest by moving between coaches and changing seats.
“Acting on specific intelligence and technical surveillance, we finally intercepted him at Ahmedabad Junction. He tried to stay one step ahead by darting between coaches and switching seats, but our team was able to apprehend him,” said an ED official.
Following the arrest, the ED conducted searches at the premises of one of Singla’s associates under Section 17 of the PMLA.
### Background of the Investigation
The ED’s investigation follows an FIR filed by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai, in early August. The complaint, lodged by Om Prakash, Deputy Zonal Manager of Mumbai North Zone, Bank of India, accused Singla of criminal breach of trust and misconduct. Singla was posted at the Turner Road branch.
The alleged offences, committed along with other unknown individuals, include violations under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 316(5) of the Banking Regulation Act, 2023, and Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).
### The Fraud Scheme
ED investigations unveiled a meticulously planned scheme that spanned over two years. Between May 2023 and July 2025, Singla, with criminal intent, fraudulently closed multiple Term Deposits (TDs), Public Provident Funds (PPFs), Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) accounts, Savings Bank (SB) accounts, and Current Accounts (CAs) without authorisation.
The proceeds from these unauthorized closures were systematically diverted into his personal SBI savings accounts.
The probe further revealed that Singla deliberately targeted 127 account holders, including vulnerable customers such as senior citizens, minors, deceased customers, and holders of dormant or inoperative accounts to evade detection.
Funds were transferred in small, layered transactions to conceal the trail, enabling the fraud to remain undetected for more than two years.
### Impact and Current Status
Through this elaborate modus operandi, Singla allegedly siphoned off Rs 16.10 crore, causing substantial financial loss to the bank, damaging its reputation, and undermining public trust by abusing his official position.
Since the fraud was uncovered, Singla evaded both the Bank of India and law enforcement authorities by remaining absconding. His arrest at Ahmedabad Junction, despite repeated attempts to escape, marks the culmination of months of surveillance and investigation by the ED.
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