Shimla CBI court jails 4 convicts for KCC loan fraud at SBI Kangra
Synopsis
A fraud that began with forged farm-loan documents at an SBI branch in Kangra over a decade ago has finally reached its reckoning — four convicts sentenced to two years in jail by a Shimla CBI court. The case, spanning 39 charge sheets across two courts, underscores how deep the conspiracy ran and how long economic justice can take.
Key Takeaways
A Special CBI Court in Shimla sentenced four convicts to two years' imprisonment on 14 July for KCC loan fraud.
The convicts — Bachitter Singh , Roshan Lal , Harkirat Singh , and Shammi — were found guilty of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
A combined fine of ₹80,000 was imposed across three bank fraud cases .
Loans were fraudulently obtained from SBI's Dehra branch, District Kangra , using fake documents and were never repaid.
The CBI filed 20 charge sheets in the Special CBI Court and 19 more before the CJM Court, Shimla.
The original case was registered on 22 February 2013 , making this a resolution over 12 years in the making.
A Special CBI Court in Shimla on Tuesday, 14 July sentenced four convicts to two years' imprisonment and imposed a combined fine of ₹80,000 in three separate bank fraud cases involving Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans fraudulently obtained from a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Dehra, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed the sentencing in an official statement.
Who Was Convicted
The four individuals found guilty of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy are Bachitter Singh, Roshan Lal, Harkirat Singh, and Shammi. The court had convicted them on 6 July following the conclusion of trial proceedings, with formal sentencing delivered on Tuesday.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The CBI originally registered the case on 22 February 2013 against a group of accused that included Raj Kumar Kainth (then Branch Manager, SBI, Dehra), Kuldip Singh Bhatoa (then Field Officer, SBI, Dehra), S.M. Paul (former Branch Manager, SBI, Dehra), Mohinder (then Manager PBD, SBI, Dehra), Suresh Kumar (private individual), and other unidentified bank officials.
According to the CBI, the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to obtain KCC loans from the SBI branch in Dehra using fake and forged documents. The loans were never repaid, causing financial loss to the bank and undermining a scheme designed to benefit the farming community.
Scale of the Investigation
Following its investigation, the CBI filed 20 separate charge sheets before the Special CBI Court, Shimla, against both bank officers and private borrowers. An additional 19 charge sheets were filed before the Court of Special Magistrate-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Shimla, exclusively against private individuals — reflecting the breadth of the alleged conspiracy.
What the KCC Scheme Is
The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme is a government-backed credit facility that provides farmers with affordable, flexible loans for cultivation, farm maintenance, and household needs. Loans up to ₹3 lakh are available at 7% per annum, effectively reduced to 4% per annum for borrowers who repay promptly. Fraudulent diversion of such loans directly harms the farmers the scheme is designed to serve.
CBI's Stance on Economic Offences
The CBI reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability in economic offence cases, particularly those adversely affecting common citizens. This verdict is part of a broader push by the agency to pursue decade-old bank fraud cases to their logical conclusion. With multiple charge sheets still under trial, further sentencing in related cases remains possible.
Point of View
The four convicted today are unlikely to be the last. The real accountability test remains: what happened to the bank officers named in the original 2013 FIR? Their cases, if still pending, are the more consequential thread.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KCC loan fraud case in Shimla?
It is a bank fraud case in which four individuals obtained Kisan Credit Card loans from an SBI branch in Dehra, District Kangra, using fake and forged documents and never repaid them. The CBI registered the case in 2013, and a Special CBI Court in Shimla sentenced four convicts to two years in jail on 14 July.
Who are the four convicts sentenced by the Shimla CBI court?
The four convicts are Bachitter Singh, Roshan Lal, Harkirat Singh, and Shammi. They were found guilty of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy related to fraudulent KCC loans from SBI's Dehra branch in Himachal Pradesh.
What is the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme?
The KCC scheme is a government-backed credit facility that gives farmers affordable loans for cultivation, farm upkeep, and household needs. Loans up to ₹3 lakh are offered at 7% per annum, dropping to 4% per annum for prompt repayment.
How many charge sheets did the CBI file in this case?
The CBI filed 20 separate charge sheets before the Special CBI Court, Shimla, against bank officers and private borrowers, and 19 additional charge sheets before the Court of Special Magistrate-cum-CJM, Shimla, against private individuals alone — totalling 39 charge sheets.
When was the original CBI case registered?
The CBI registered the case on 22 February 2013, against named SBI branch officials in Dehra and private individuals, following allegations of criminal conspiracy to obtain loans through forged documents.
