Lucknow: Authorities on Sunday attached properties worth about ₹1.08 crore belonging to Phool Mohammad, an accused in the alleged ₹21.47-crore embezzlement case linked to the Gonda branch of the Uttar Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, officials said.The attachment was carried out by a joint team of police and revenue officials after receiving orders from the competent court, as investigators probe alleged irregularities in loan disbursal and diversion of cooperative bank funds.City circle officer Yogendra Singh said the proceedings were conducted in compliance with the court’s directions.Phool Mohammad, a resident of Daulatpurwa Khirabha, is accused of conspiring with bank officials to fraudulently obtain loans in the names of other individuals and siphon off a substantial portion of the sanctioned amounts.Investigators alleged that loans were arranged through borrowers who received only the amount they needed, while the remaining money was allegedly transferred to Mohammad’s bank account.An FIR registered at Gonda Nagar Kotwali includes charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of cooperative bank funds, officials said.The case surfaced after a special internal audit by the Uttar Pradesh State Cooperative Bank reportedly flagged suspected embezzlement of around ₹21.47 crore through multiple accounts, prompting a detailed investigation.Following the audit findings, superintendent of police Abhishek approached the court seeking attachment of properties allegedly linked to the accused. Based on material placed before it, the Additional Civil Judge ordered attachment and seizure proceedings, officials said.The attached assets include agricultural and residential land in Gird Gonda Rural, Khirabha and Laxmanpur Jat, with a combined estimated value of ₹1,08,08,000.District magistrate Priyanka Niranjan had earlier appointed Sadar SDM Jitendra Gautam as administrator for the attached properties. Revenue officials, police personnel and local administration representatives completed the attachment process.
