A Central Bureau of Investigation case involving alleged unauthorised transactions at Punjab National Bank’s Greater Noida Sector Pi branch remains under investigation. Reports dated 1 November 2026 describe alleged misuse of six employees’ Core Banking System credentials and sharply different estimates of the money involved.
What the investigation concerns
A criminal investigation is examining alleged unauthorised transfers from savings and fixed-deposit accounts at Punjab National Bank’s Sector Pi-1 branch in Greater Noida. Reports published on 1 November describe an allegation that a branch office assistant and an outside account holder diverted customer funds over a lengthy period. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case. The allegations are not findings of guilt.
Hindustan Times reported that the first documented customer complaint concerned three unfamiliar entries noticed on 16 September 2026. Subsequent checking reportedly raised concerns about missing transaction documentation and account transfers. Mint and India Today also describe a bank complaint based on preliminary system logs and transaction records.
Why six Core Banking System logins are central
Core Banking System (CBS) user IDs allow authorised bank staff to perform work in the bank’s central system. The sources report that IDs assigned to six different branch officials appeared in the records of disputed transactions. Investigators are examining how access was obtained and how the funds moved. The presence of an employee’s user ID in a transaction trail must not, by itself, be treated as proof that the employee knowingly authorised the operation.
India Today reported that the bank’s complaint named an office assistant and an outside associate as accused, with other public and private persons under investigation. Hindustan Times quoted police as saying the question of whether the six staff members consented to their credentials being used remained under investigation. We therefore do not describe all six officials as offenders.
Why different rupee figures are circulating
| Reported amount | What the source describes | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| ₹10.24 crore | Preliminary amount identified in PNB’s complaint, as reported by India Today and Mint. | Bank’s reported initial assessment; not a final audited loss. |
| ₹12.12 crore | Amount recorded in a local police FIR cited by Hindustan Times. | FIR figure from that stage of the case. |
| About ₹17 crore | Estimated total stated by a police officer in the Hindustan Times report after more account holders complained. | Broader police-reported estimate; not established as the bank’s final confirmed loss. |
Earlier public claims around ₹35 crore also appeared in reporting, but the available articles do not establish them as a verified final figure. These are not four separate frauds; the numbers reflect different claims, scopes or stages of one continuing investigation.
What employees and customers should understand
The case raises a practical concern about protecting staff credentials, verifying customer instructions and reconciling account changes. It does not establish that a specific employee outside those formally named deliberately shared a password. Nor does it prove that every customer complaint has been adjudicated or reimbursed.
Bank staff should follow their own institution’s current access-control, maker-checker, record-retention and incident-reporting procedures. This observation is general professional guidance, not a statement that a particular rule was breached in this case.
Next questions for the investigation
Important unresolved issues include the precise total amount of unauthorised transfers, who controlled or accessed the six IDs, the destination and recovery of funds, the number of customers finally affected, and the outcomes of bank disciplinary and CBI proceedings. Reported suspensions or investigative steps are not criminal convictions.
Sources and References
- Hindustan Times — Gr Noida PNB fraud: Staffer used bank IDs for illegal transactions, say police
- Mint — PNB Greater Noida Sector Pi branch fraud: How employee used 6 logins to transfer customers money
- India Today — Greater Noida PNB fraud ran for 3 years, staffer broke FDs; CBI files case
- Mint — Greater Noida PNB Fraud Case: CBI names Deepanshi, Ashutosh Pathak – What are they accused of? Details
Please consult the cited sources and check the exact applicability of any legal or employment change. Corrections are welcomed.
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