Bank Liable For Break-In And Theft From Locker

Gopal Prasad Mahanty and his daughter Rupali had been customers of State Bank of India's Bokaro Steel City Branch in Jharkhand for nearly four decades.

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They had a savings bank account, several high-value fixed deposits, and a locker. On the night between December 25 and 26, 2017, a theft took place in the bank.

Several lockers were broken open, including the one rented by Mahanty. Items such as jewellery, postal deposit instruments, and other valuables kept in the locker were stolen. Mahanty learnt about the theft through the news telecast on the 26th evening. Next morning, his daughter and he rushed to the bank to find three lists posted on the wall of the main entrance. Their locker (number 1/46) was listed as one of those that had been broken open. The bank officer asked them to furnish a list of their valuables. The assessed the loss of gold jewellery at Rs. 32 lakh and silver at Rs. 1,85,000, excluding the antique value, and wrist watches worth Rs. 34,000. Bank and postal documents were also stolen.