Reported by Avik Chakraborty
Dibrugarh: A major controversy has erupted at the Bank of Maharashtra branch in Assam’s Dibrugarh after several customers, mostly tea garden workers and low-income families, alleged that large sums of money had mysteriously disappeared from their bank accounts.
According to the affected customers, discrepancies came to light when they visited the bank to withdraw money or update their passbooks.
Several account holders claimed that the balances reflected in previous entries did not match the amounts currently available in their accounts, leading to panic and outrage among local residents.
The issue reportedly affects more than a hundred customers from tea garden areas around Dibrugarh. Local representatives and labour organisations have warned of mass protests if the missing funds are not restored immediately and a transparent investigation is not initiated.
One of the affected customers, Bobita Tati, alleged that she had been repeatedly visiting the bank for several days after discovering irregularities in her account. “I had around Rs 1,13,820 in my account. But when I went to withdraw money, I was told only Rs 1,900 was available. I have been visiting the branch again and again, but I still have not received a clear explanation,” she said.
Another customer, Dilip Tati, claimed that his father’s account, which had been active for years, also showed major discrepancies after a recent transaction. “After depositing Rs 10,000 and updating the passbook, we noticed the balance did not match previous records. Earlier entries showed nearly Rs 12 lakh, but now there are inconsistencies. Even after two to three days of checking, the issue has not been resolved,” he alleged.
A local organiser representing the affected tea garden workers alleged that crores of rupees could be involved in the suspected irregularities. “Many tea workers from the region have deposited their life savings in the bank.
More than 100 accounts are reportedly affected. We demand an immediate high-level investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible,” the representative said.
Customers have demanded that bank authorities immediately clarify the situation in writing and ensure that all missing funds are restored without delay. They have also appealed to the district administration to intervene and conduct an independent inquiry into the matter.
Residents fear that if the allegations are not addressed promptly, public trust in the banking system could be severely affected, particularly among economically weaker sections who depend heavily on savings accounts for financial security.
Meanwhile, affected customers continue to visit the branch seeking answers, while local organisations have warned of stronger agitation if immediate corrective measures are not taken. Bank authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations.