IOB job scam: 446 accused appear before CBI court

CHENNAI: About 446 accused, including the former chairman and managing director of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), union leaders, other staff and recruits, who were allegedly involved in a recruitment scam, appeared before a special court for CBI cases here on Wednesday.

After serving the copies of the charge sheets to the accused, the XI Additional Special Court for CBI cases in Singaravelar Maligai adjourned the hearing to June 12.

According to the CBI, administrative officials of IOB, central office, in collusion with the office-bearers of the All Indian Overseas Bank Employees Union (AIOBEU), recruited messengers / sweepers over and above the approved vacancies — and that too ineligible candidates.

The bank conducted a recruitment drive in 2013-2015 for appointing sweepers and messengers in various centres across the state.

It was alleged that during the recruitment, the bank authorities in collusion with the AIOBEU managed to appoint ineligible candidates for illegal consideration.

A probe by the CBI revealed that then chairman and managing director, M Narendra, and then president of the union, L Balasubramanian, and general secretary, S Srinivasan, were involved in the scam.

In January, CBI filed charge sheet after which the court issued summons to all 446 accused. Investigation revealed that Narendra accorded approval on a note, which led the union leaders to recruit ineligible candidates. Though the education qualification for the post was a pass in Standard VIII / a fail in the SSLC examination, many of the recruits were over-qualified.

They had produced fake certificates claiming that they had failed in Standard X. The accused were charged under various sections of the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.