CBI Trap: Bank of Baroda Branch Manager and Bank Mitra Arrested

Kanpur-Dehat-New Delhi : In a significant anti-corruption action, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the Branch Manager of Bank of Baroda’s Nonari Bujurg Branch in Kanpur Dehat district along with a Tout/Bank Mitra for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from a loan beneficiary seeking documents related to an interest subsidy scheme.

According to the CBI, the case was registered on June 3, 2026, following a complaint filed by a borrower who had obtained a loan of ₹10 lakh under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in December 2023. The loan was sanctioned for establishing a solar-powered flour mill as part of a self-employment initiative.

The complainant stated that after successfully operating the project for two years, he became eligible to claim interest subsidy benefits under the Pt. Deendayal Gramodyog Rojgar Yojana. To process the subsidy claim, he required certain official documents from the concerned bank branch.

As per the complaint, the borrower had already received the first installment of the interest subsidy after completing the necessary formalities. However, when he approached the branch again for documents required for subsequent subsidy benefits, the Branch Manager allegedly demanded an illegal gratification of ₹25,000.

The complaint further alleged that the Branch Manager used a Bank Mitra, who was functioning as an intermediary or tout at the branch, to communicate and collect the bribe amount. The officer allegedly warned the complainant that the required documents would not be issued unless the demanded amount was paid.

Taking cognizance of the allegations, the CBI conducted a preliminary verification and subsequently registered a formal case under relevant provisions of anti-corruption laws.

After laying a carefully planned trap on June 4, 2026, CBI officials caught the accused Bank Mitra red-handed while accepting ₹15,000 from the complainant. Investigators said the amount was being collected on behalf of the Branch Manager as part of the alleged bribery arrangement.

Following the successful trap operation, the agency immediately apprehended the intermediary and carried out further proceedings against the Branch Manager. Based on evidence gathered during the operation, both accused individuals were arrested.

CBI officials stated that the arrests demonstrate the agency’s continued efforts to curb corruption in public institutions and ensure transparency in the implementation of government welfare and employment-generation schemes.

The PMEGP scheme, under which the complainant had availed the loan, is a flagship programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through the establishment of micro-enterprises in rural and urban areas. Similarly, the Pt. Deendayal Gramodyog Rojgar Yojana provides interest subsidy support to eligible beneficiaries to promote entrepreneurship and rural industrial development.

Investigators are now examining whether similar demands for illegal gratification were made from other beneficiaries who approached the branch for subsidy-related documentation or banking services. The agency is also scrutinizing records and communications to determine the extent of the alleged misconduct.

The arrested Branch Manager and the Bank Mitra are being produced before the competent court in Lucknow. The CBI has indicated that the investigation remains ongoing and additional evidence is being collected.

Officials said further inquiries would focus on identifying any wider network of corruption, the role of other individuals, and whether beneficiaries of government-sponsored schemes were systematically exploited through illegal demands.

The case once again highlights the challenges faced by beneficiaries of welfare and employment schemes and underscores the importance of strict vigilance mechanisms to ensure that public benefits reach eligible citizens without corruption or undue influence.