Udaipur, Nov 21, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Nov 11: Babul Chakraborty, a retired government teacher, has accused Mukesh Kumar, the Chief Manager of SBI’s Udaipur branch, of severe mental and financial harassment. Chakraborty, who retired in 2019, claimed that Kumar’s actions had plunged him into financial distress by withholding his monthly pension credits, leaving his family struggling.

The trouble began when Kumar allegedly penalized Chakraborty for an error made by the Udaipur SBI staff in 2021. Instead of addressing the mistake with the responsible employees, Kumar froze Chakraborty’s savings account—where his pension is deposited—demanding payment of a penalty. According to Chakraborty, Kumar insisted on recovering ₹1,15,667 as penalty and interest for a pre-maturity withdrawal of ₹15 lakh, even though the bank had failed to deduct the penalty when the withdrawal was made in 2021.

Chakraborty explained that he had created a fixed deposit of ₹15 lakh in 2020 as a senior citizen but withdrew the amount the following year for medical treatment and essential expenses. His account was later transferred to the Agartala TLA House branch, where his pension is credited. However, in Oct 2024, Mukesh Kumar identified the 2021 oversight and froze Chakraborty’s account, sternly demanding the penalty amount in full.

“This mistake was made by the bank in 2021, yet I am being punished for it. How can I pay such a large amount when my only income is my monthly pension? My family depends on this, and we are barely surviving without it,” Chakraborty lamented.

As Mukesh remained brazenly adamant in unfreezing Chakraborty’s SB account. Desperate to regularize his SB account to run his family, Chakraborty wrote to Kumar, expressing his willingness to repay the amount in installments of Rs 3,000 per month even as Chakraborty was not a defaulter. He also reminded Mukesh Kumar that withholding his pension was neither ethical nor moral, as his family depended entirely on this income. Despite this, Kumar allegedly refused to lift the hold on the account, insisting on full payment.

“This behavior is inhuman and has crossed all limits of harassment,” Chakraborty commented, calling for intervention from Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and senior SBI officials.

Notably, other customers of the Udaipur branch have echoed similar grievances against Mukesh Kumar, accusing him of misbehavior, harassment and non-cooperation, particularly with senior citizens. Several such complaints against Mukesh Kumar are piling up and it is imperative that the higher authority of SBI pay attention to customers’ agony and grievances, commented another veteran customer of SBI Udaipur branch.