Pune: A magisterial court in Wanowrie on Friday rejected the bail applications of a senior manager with the Punjab National Bank's ( PNB ) Camp branch and a jeweller , in connection with the theft of valuables worth Rs2.78 crore from a locker in the bank. Joint Judicial Magistrate First Class SH Atkare observed, "The gold jewellery belonging to the complainant were partially recovered.
Investigations are ongoing to recover the remaining jewellery. The wanted accused who had taken the jewellery from the bank locker has not been arrested. Prima facie, there is evidence of involvement of the accused (senior manager and jeweller).
There is no merit in the bail applications." Assistant public prosecutor Varsha Aslekar informed the court that the two accused and 70-year-old wanted suspect had broken into the bank locker and removed the valuables. Police had recovered some of them worth Rs35.
58 lakh from the jeweller. However, the main suspect, who is believed to be in possession of the remaining jewellery, has not been arrested as he is suffering from medical ailments. The prosecution requested the rejection of their bail pleas, fearing that they would tamper with the evidence and create hindrances in the investigation.
The complainant's lawyers Angad Singh Gill and Dhvani Shah filed an intervention application opposing the bail pleas, saying the jeweller had illegally taken the valuables and melted them without asking for receipts. The bank's senior manager had allowed the breakin.