After more than ten years, justice has been served in the Bank of Maharashtra embezzlement case in Betul, Madhya Pradesh. On Tuesday, the Multai Additional Sessions Court delivered its verdict, marking the end of a long legal battle. Four individuals, including Vinay Ojha, father of former cricketer Naman Ojha, now face prison sentences for their roles in the scandal.
In 2013, the deceitful scheme unfolded at the Joulkheda branch within the jurisdiction of Multai police station, where criminals siphoned off Rs 1.25 crore. The court identified six culprits in this intricate plot. Abhishek Ratnam, identified as the mastermind, received the harshest punishment; the court sentenced him to ten years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 80 lakh.
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Vinay Ojha, the father of former India cricketer Naman Ojha, who served as an assistant manager during the fraud, also met with legal repercussions. The court sentenced him to seven years in prison and fined him Rs 7 lakh. Similarly, brokers Dhanraj Pawar and Lakhan Hingwe each received seven-year sentences and fines of Rs 7 lakh.
The scam’s execution involved sophisticated misuse of bank officials’ passwords. Ratnam exploited these credentials to establish numerous fictitious accounts, from which he illicitly withdrew substantial sums. During the investigation, authorities arrested Vinay Ojha, substantiating their case with evidence that was strong enough to convince the court, despite the unfortunate demise of a crucial witness, Dinanath Rathore, the bank’s cashier.
This verdict not only closes a chapter on one of Betul’s most notorious banking frauds but also sends a clear message about the consequences of financial misdeeds. The community now looks forward to healing and rebuilding trust in its financial institutions.
Naman Ojha, a former Indian cricketer from Madhya Pradesh, made his Test debut in 2015 against Sri Lanka. Known for his aggressive top-order batting and wicketkeeping, Ojha captained India A and was a key player in the domestic circuit, scoring over 9,700 first-class runs with 22 centuries. He retired in 2021.
