CBI Arrests PNB Office Assistant and Private Individual in Greater Noida Account-Fraud Investigation

Two arrests in an ongoing investigation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested an office assistant or sub-staff member posted at Punjab National Bank’s Sector Pi branch in Greater Noida and a private individual on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Moneycontrol and ThePrint reported the arrests using information attributed to the investigating agency. The development concerns customer-account transactions that are already the subject of a bank complaint and a criminal investigation.

The sum of ₹10.24 crore is the amount of alleged unauthorised debits identified in the CBI case. It should not be read as a finally audited loss, a court finding, or a figure for money still due to customers. The case may involve additional inquiries and reconciliation of customer claims.

What investigators are examining

The CBI registered its case on 29 October 2026 following a complaint by PNB. According to reports describing the complaint, bank records and system-access activity raised concerns about transactions in customer accounts. The complaint alleges that an office assistant misused credentials associated with other branch staff and acted with a private person and potentially others. These are investigative allegations; the exact role of any individual is for the legal process to establish.

The Indian Express reported that the bank’s internal review examined system logs, records and transaction activity. This reporting adds background to the suspected account access, but it does not establish misconduct by every employee whose credentials may have appeared in records.

New action since the earlier customer complaints

Earlier reports had focused on customer complaints, suspected withdrawals, branch protests and efforts to reconcile affected accounts. The two arrests on 3 November are a distinct procedural development and warrant a follow-up. Moneycontrol reported that the CBI obtained transit remand from a special CBI court in Pune for the private individual. Such remand is a custody-related court procedure, not a determination that the charges are proved.

Some public reports about the broader dispute have referred to different totals for customer claims, questioned transactions or reported refunds. Those figures describe different stages or measures and should not be combined. The CBI’s stated ₹10.24 crore case figure is used here only in connection with the agency’s alleged unauthorised debits.

What remains unresolved

Further investigation is continuing. The final amount of any proven loss, the complete list of affected transactions, the involvement or non-involvement of other persons, the full recovery position and the outcome of any trial have not been established by the sources inspected for this article. No conviction was reported in those sources.

For bankers, the relevant professional issues include controls over system access, transaction alerts, record retention and independent review when unusual account activity is reported. This observation is a general operational lesson, not a finding that a particular PNB officer breached a specified rule. Bank management and investigators retain responsibility for establishing the facts in this case.

Sources and References

1. Moneycontrol: Rs 10.24-crore PNB fraud: CBI arrests bank employee, private individual in Greater Noida case (2026-11-03)
2. ThePrint: CBI arrests first PNB employee in Rs 10 crore Greater Noida bank fraud case (2026-11-04)
3. The Indian Express: Rs 10.24 cr gone from PNB accounts: How office assistant perpetrated the fraud (2026-11-04)