Employees of Amanath Co-operative Bank are an angry lot. Employees have been protesting at the bank head office in Shivajinagar for a fortnight.
Employees of Amanath Co-operative Bank are an angry lot. Employees have been protesting at the bank head office in Shivajinagar for a fortnight.
On Thursday, more than 50 employees alleged that the chief executive officer (CEO) Shahar Banu had verbally abused them and even threw her footwear at the protesters. A protester, Gururaj, said Banu harassed employees.
Meanwhile, Banu denied the allegation and said she initiated action against employees who had indulged in fraud at the bank. On Thursday, policemen were deployed at the bank to avoid untoward incidents.
The police said the protest might be politically motivated as Banu had filed a complaint in February against Rahman Khan, a former president of the bank and deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Khan, his son and son-in-law have been accused of misappropriating `12 crore. The bank’s other board members, including Irfan Razaq, are also accused of fraud.
In February, Banu was physically assaulted by bank employees Hussain and Basheer, who were demanding her transfer from the bank. Banu, a joint director of the bank, had been deputed as CEO. She has held the post since November 5, 2009.
Hussain, general secretary of the Amanath Co-operative Bank Employees’ Association, said the CEO was deputing employees as security guards of the bank’s 15 branches. Hussain alleged that Banu verbally abused employees, filed a false complaint and suspended staffers on false grounds. Hussain also alleged that the appointment of CEO and administrator is illegal; it has caused a loss of Rs50 lakh to bank per month.
Banu said some employees were involved in fraud during the previous CEO’s stint. These employees were angry when she did not sanction loans to the persons recommended by them. Later, Banu suspended 16 employees for their alleged role in the fraud. A source said more than `158.6 crore was misused from 1998 to 2002.
A source said the employees were protesting to press Banu to withdraw the criminal case.
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