FSL gives a twist to Suryapur Bank scam

Specimen signature of the main accused & signatures on loan papers don't match

The Rs 44 crore Suryapur Co-operative Bank scam has taken a new turn with the forensic science laboratory (FSL) reporting that the specimen signature of the main accused, Mukesh Desai, does not match with the signatures on the loan papers.

Investigating offier PSI B S Nathani of the detection of crime branch confirmed that the forensic laboratory report found the signatures are not matching.

Desai has been accused of using his contacts in the bank to secure loans for his friends and relatives and then not paying the money back. Desai, who was arrested by the detection of crime branch, came out on bail recently after spending 13 months in jail.

Earlier, Suryapur Bank chairman Babu Gamit had lodged a complaint with the police against 59 people in connection with the scam.

Nathani said though Desai's specimen signature and the signatures on the loan documents do not match, police still have sufficient evidence against him. "The case is trong despite the forensic laboratory report. It is likely that the loan forms were filled by people close to him," Nathani said.

Nathani said police have the affidavits of the accused stating that Desai helped them get loans. "Loans have been taken from the bank and the money has been transferred to various accounts. We are tracing the transactions," Nathani said.

Claiming that he is innocent, Desai had said he had not signed any loan papers. Police had sent copies of the loan documents, allegedly signed by Desai as a guarantor, and his specimen signature to handwriting experts at the laboratory to find out if the signatures matched.

The forensic science laboratory officials sent their report to the police a few days back, opining that the signatures on the loan papers do not match with the specimen signature of Desai.

Desai said, "The FSL report confirms that I did not take any loan from the bank and I did not sign on any paper as a guarantor."

He said, "Finding out who the real culprits are is not difficult. To whose accounts was the loan amount transferred from the bank can be easily found out."

Meanwhile, the bail plea filed by five accused in the scam including chairman Babu Gamit will be heard by the sessions court on Tuesday. The four other accused who have filed the bail applications include the bank's managing director Ranjeetsinh Mangrola, chief executive Jagdishchandra Jariwala, director Premal Gandhi and manager Bhupendra Patel.

Babu Gamit, Jagdishchandra Jariwala and Premal Gandhi were arrested on April 9 by the detection of crime branch from Walia in Bharuch district, while the remaining two had surrendered before the police the same day.

All the five are at present in judicial custody in Surat sub jail.