The CBI Special Court in Coimbatore has sentenced Krishnagiri government school teachers T. Vinothkumar and Nithilan to three-and-a-half years in prison each, with a fine of ₹1 lakh each, for using forged documents and fake salary certificates to obtain bank loans totalling ₹25.5 lakh from the State Bank of India branch in Sathyamangalam. Vinothkumar allegedly obtained ₹13.5 lakh by falsely claiming employment at an Erode school, while Nithilan allegedly obtained ₹12 lakh using similar fake documents. Judge Sivakumar delivered the verdict after both accused remained absconding through the trial and were represented by legal aid counsel.
Coimbatore: The CBI Special Court in Coimbatore has sentenced two government school teachers from Krishnagiri district to three-and-a-half years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on each for allegedly obtaining bank loans totalling ₹25.5 lakh using fake documents and salary certificates.
According to the case, T. Vinothkumar, a teacher at a government panchayat primary school in Pappanur, Krishnagiri district, allegedly submitted fake documents and a forged salary certificate claiming that he was working as a teacher at a school in the Erode region. Based on the documents, he obtained a loan of ₹13.5 lakh from the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Sathyamangalam.
Vinothkumar initially opened an account with the bank and paid the monthly instalments for a few months. He subsequently transferred the account to another bank and stopped making the loan repayments, according to the case.
Following a complaint from SBI officials, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted an investigation and found that the loan had allegedly been obtained using forged documents.
During the investigation, the CBI also found that another teacher, Nithilan, who was working at the Pappanur government school, had allegedly used fake documents to obtain a ₹12 lakh loan from the same SBI branch. Separate cases were registered against the two teachers.
The two cases were heard by Judge Sivakumar at the Coimbatore Chief Judicial Magistrate and CBI Special Court, with CBI counsel Surendramohan appearing for the prosecution.
During the trial, both accused reportedly failed to appear before the court and remained absconding. Following court directions, legal aid counsel was appointed to represent them, and the trial proceeded.
After hearing the cases, Judge Sivakumar held that the charges against Vinothkumar and Nithilan had been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced both to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each.
The court further directed that ₹20,000 from the fine amount be paid to the legal aid counsel who represented the accused in the cases.
According to the case, T. Vinothkumar, a teacher at a government panchayat primary school in Pappanur, Krishnagiri district, allegedly submitted fake documents and a forged salary certificate claiming that he was working as a teacher at a school in the Erode region. Based on the documents, he obtained a loan of ₹13.5 lakh from the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Sathyamangalam.
Vinothkumar initially opened an account with the bank and paid the monthly instalments for a few months. He subsequently transferred the account to another bank and stopped making the loan repayments, according to the case.
Following a complaint from SBI officials, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted an investigation and found that the loan had allegedly been obtained using forged documents.
During the investigation, the CBI also found that another teacher, Nithilan, who was working at the Pappanur government school, had allegedly used fake documents to obtain a ₹12 lakh loan from the same SBI branch. Separate cases were registered against the two teachers.
The two cases were heard by Judge Sivakumar at the Coimbatore Chief Judicial Magistrate and CBI Special Court, with CBI counsel Surendramohan appearing for the prosecution.
During the trial, both accused reportedly failed to appear before the court and remained absconding. Following court directions, legal aid counsel was appointed to represent them, and the trial proceeded.
After hearing the cases, Judge Sivakumar held that the charges against Vinothkumar and Nithilan had been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced both to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each.
The court further directed that ₹20,000 from the fine amount be paid to the legal aid counsel who represented the accused in the cases.