SBI locker found empty in Bhopal: Retired IAS officer loses all valuables
Synopsis
A retired IAS officer walked into an SBI branch inside a premier Bhopal institution and found his jointly-held locker stripped bare — valuables last seen in 2024, now gone without explanation. With police yet to receive a formal complaint and the bank offering no clear account, the case cuts to the heart of how secure India's bank lockers truly are.
Key Takeaways
Retired IAS officer A.P.
Shrivastava found his SBI locker at the IIFM campus branch in Bhopal completely empty on 12 November 2026 .
The locker is held jointly with his daughters Surabhi and Shruti and had not been operated since 2024 .
Branch Manager Harish Mehra confirmed the incident but offered no clear explanation for the missing valuables.
Investigating Officer Nirupa Pandey of Kamla Nagar police station confirmed a probe is underway; a formal complaint is yet to be filed.
Other locker holders at the branch are now seeking reassurance on security measures.
A retired IAS officer, A.P. Shrivastava, discovered his State Bank of India (SBI) locker completely empty on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the bank's branch on the campus of the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The locker, held jointly with his two daughters Surabhi and Shruti, had reportedly not been operated since 2024.
How the Discovery Unfolded
Shrivastava visited the branch with his daughter Surabhi after encountering difficulty opening the lock, which he described as 'jammed'. He handed the keys over to bank officials, who eventually opened the locker — only to find it completely bare.
'I was taken aback. The locker was completely empty. Everything is gone,' a visibly shaken Shrivastava said. The former officer has since demanded a thorough inquiry and recovery of the missing items.
What the Bank Said
Branch Manager Harish Mehra confirmed the incident, saying: 'The customer is a valued customer of the bank. He came and found it difficult to open the locker. Later the locker was opened and nothing was found inside.' Mehra added that it was possible the customers might have forgotten the contents, or that the valuables could be stored in another locker — though no clear explanation was immediately available.
Police Probe Initiated
Authorities have been notified and an investigation is underway. Investigating Officer Nirupa Pandey of the Kamla Nagar police station confirmed that all aspects of the case are being examined. 'A formal complaint from the officer is yet to be received,' Pandey said. Bank officials have assured full cooperation with the investigation.
Wider Concerns Over Locker Security
The incident has triggered alarm among other locker holders at the IIFM branch, many of whom are now seeking clarification on the security protocols in place. Cases of bank lockers found empty after extended periods of non-operation frequently result in disputes over liability between customers and financial institutions — disputes that often drag on for years.
This comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of bank locker management in India, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) having issued revised guidelines in recent years requiring banks to tighten access logs and customer notification norms. Whether those protocols were followed in this instance remains part of the ongoing probe.
Point of View
Yet whether those rules were applied here remains unanswered. The fact that a police investigation has begun without even a formal complaint filed tells its own story about how procedurally underprepared institutions can be when a prominent complainant walks in. For ordinary locker holders, this case is a reminder that 'secure' does not always mean 'safe'.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to A.P. Shrivastava's SBI locker in Bhopal?
Retired IAS officer A.P. Shrivastava found his State Bank of India locker at the IIFM campus branch in Bhopal completely empty on 12 November 2026. The locker, held jointly with his two daughters, had not been operated since 2024, and all stored valuables were found missing.
What did SBI's branch manager say about the missing valuables?
Branch Manager Harish Mehra confirmed the incident but offered no clear explanation. He suggested the customer might have forgotten the contents or that valuables could be in another locker — a response the officer rejected.
Is there a police investigation into the Bhopal SBI locker case?
Yes, police have been informed and a probe has been initiated. Investigating Officer Nirupa Pandey of Kamla Nagar police station confirmed all aspects are being examined, though a formal written complaint from the retired officer had not yet been received as of 12 November.
What are the RBI rules on bank locker security?
The Reserve Bank of India has issued revised guidelines requiring banks to maintain strict access logs, notify customers of locker operations, and define liability in cases of theft or tampering. Whether these protocols were followed in the Bhopal case is part of the ongoing investigation.
Who is affected by this incident beyond the complainant?
Other locker holders at the IIFM campus SBI branch have expressed concern and are seeking clarification on the security measures in place. The case has broader implications for public confidence in bank locker safety across India.
