CBI arrests BoB branch manager for ₹25,000 bribe demand in Kanpur
Synopsis
A Bank of Baroda branch manager and his banking correspondent were caught red-handed by the CBI in Kanpur Dehat after allegedly demanding ₹25,000 from a small borrower who had taken a ₹10 lakh PMEGP loan to set up a solar flour mill — and was being extorted for documents to claim a government interest subsidy he was legally entitled to.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested Gaurav Verma , Branch Manager, Bank of Baroda Nonari Bujurg Branch, Kanpur Dehat , and Bank Mitra Raghvendra on Thursday .
The duo allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹25,000 from a PMEGP loan beneficiary for issuing interest subsidy documents.
The CBI trap caught Raghvendra accepting ₹15,000 on behalf of the branch manager.
The complainant had taken a ₹10 lakh PMEGP loan in December 2023 to set up a solar flour mill.
Both accused were produced before a Special CBI Court in Lucknow after arrest.
The CBI registered the case on 3 June after receiving a hand-written complaint from the victim.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Bank of Baroda branch manager and a bank agent in Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹25,000 from a loan beneficiary under a central government employment scheme. The arrests mark the latest in a series of CBI anti-corruption actions targeting public-sector bank officials.
Who Was Arrested
Gaurav Verma, Branch Manager of the Bank of Baroda Nonari Bujurg Branch, Kanpur Dehat, and Raghvendra, a Bank Mitra (banking correspondent) attached to the same branch, were taken into custody. Following their arrest, both accused were produced before a Special CBI Court in Lucknow, according to the CBI statement.
How the Trap Was Laid
The CBI registered the case on 3 June after receiving a hand-written complaint from the aggrieved loan beneficiary. Investigators set up a trap and caught Raghvendra red-handed while accepting ₹15,000 — the first instalment of the demanded bribe — on behalf of Branch Manager Verma from the complainant.
The Alleged Extortion
According to the CBI, the complainant had secured a loan of ₹10 lakh under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) from the Nonari Bujurg branch in December 2023 to set up a solar flour mill. After approximately two years, the complainant sought the documents needed to claim an interest subsidy under the Pt. Deendayal Gramodyog Rojgar Yojana. He had already received the first instalment of the subsidy in his account.
When the complainant returned to the branch for documents required to claim the next subsidy instalment, Branch Manager Verma allegedly demanded ₹25,000 through the Bank Mitra. The manager reportedly threatened that the documents would not be released unless the bribe was paid, according to the CBI statement.
Complainant Approached CBI Directly
Unwilling to pay, the complainant bypassed the bank and submitted a hand-written application to the CBI seeking urgent intervention. The agency acted swiftly, registering the case within days and executing the trap. This pattern — a small borrower under a government welfare scheme being shaken down for documents — reflects a recurring vulnerability in last-mile subsidy delivery.
What Happens Next
Both accused remain in judicial custody pending further proceedings before the Special CBI Court in Lucknow. The CBI is expected to conduct searches and examine the bank's records related to PMEGP disbursements at the Nonari Bujurg branch. The case could trigger a broader audit of subsidy-linked document issuance at rural Bank of Baroda branches in Uttar Pradesh.
Point of View
Set up a business, and received the first subsidy instalment — yet was still extorted for paperwork he was legally owed. That a small borrower had to bypass the bank and write directly to the CBI to get relief exposes how little recourse exists within the banking system itself. The Bank of Baroda and PMEGP administrators now face questions about supervisory oversight at rural branches where such shakedowns can persist undetected.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the CBI arrest the Bank of Baroda branch manager in Kanpur?
The CBI arrested Branch Manager Gaurav Verma and Bank Mitra Raghvendra for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹25,000 from a PMEGP loan beneficiary in Kanpur Dehat. The complainant was being extorted for documents needed to claim an interest subsidy he was entitled to under the Pt. Deendayal Gramodyog Rojgar Yojana.
What is the PMEGP loan connection in this bribery case?
The complainant had obtained a ₹10 lakh loan under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in December 2023 to establish a solar flour mill. The bribe was demanded when he sought documents to claim his interest subsidy — a benefit he had already partly received.
How much bribe was actually accepted before the CBI trap?
The CBI trap caught Bank Mitra Raghvendra accepting ₹15,000 — the first part of the total ₹25,000 demanded — on behalf of Branch Manager Gaurav Verma. The transaction was the basis for the red-handed arrest.
Where will the case be heard?
Both accused were produced before a Special CBI Court in Lucknow following their arrest. Further proceedings, including searches and examination of bank records, are expected to continue under the court's supervision.
What should PMEGP beneficiaries do if they face similar demands?
Beneficiaries facing extortion for government-scheme documents can approach the CBI directly with a written complaint, as the complainant in this case did. The CBI registered the case within two days and executed the trap shortly after.
