If you are a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) or an immigrant working overseas and have an account with a bank in India, be careful. Without your knowledge, the nature of your existing account might be changed, allowing access to others.Khilaswari Kidwai, an Indian migrant, who lives in the United Arab Emirates opened a Non-Resident Emigrant (NRE) account with the Lucknow branch of the HDFC Bank in 2002. The speciality of this account is that while money can be deposited from any country, it can be withdrawn only in India.

A few months ago, Kidwai transferred his account to Barabanki, after the bank opened its branch there.

However, when Kidwai visited India last month, he came to know that his existing NRE account was changed into a Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account. In case of a NRO account, money can be deposited and withdrawn from any country at any time.

Kidwai had lodged FIRs in this regard at the Kotwali police station of Barabanki on November 16. One FIR has been lodged against Lucknow branch officials and another under Sections 419 (cheating by personation) and 420 (cheating and dishonesty including delivery of property) of the IPC.

His FIR states, “I went to check my account balance and was surprised to find that the account was changed without my knowledge. I approached senior bank officials both in Barabanki and Lucknow. After a number of visits, they informed me that it was a small error and assured me that the matter will be investigated.”

Kidwai also fears that the account might have been used for anti-social activities.

Kidwai has now returned to UAE, but before leaving, he had met meet Barabanki SP Praveen Kumar and insisted the case to be transferred to Economic Offence Wing.

Sanjiv Kumar, HDFC Zonal Head, UP and Uttarakhand, said, “We have given our reply to the police and a departmental probe is in progress. The Barabanki branch head has been put under temporary suspension and we hope to complete the probe in the next 15 days,” said Barabanki SP said, “The bank has provided us some documents. Investigation into the case is our top priority.”

Stumble it!