"We want higher officials of SBI to start an internal investigation against Pandey": Kuldeep Dasgupta's sister

On the morning of 7th January, 2023, cleaners, guards and staff of SBI Kabuganj branch found the hanging body of their Branch Manager Kuldeep Dasgupta in the bank’s record room. His body was hanging with a rope tied around his neck. Strangely his legs were also tied to the rope.

On 8th January, Kuldeep’s mother lodged an FIR in Sonai Police Station alleging that that the activities of two persons created difficulties and pressure in discharging of his duties as he was unauthorisedly and illegally pressurised by them. She strongly suspected that those two people named Yogendra Pandey (Audit Officer, SBI) and Shibu Nath (sub staff of SBI Kabuganj Branch) either killed her son to hide their misdeeds or abetted him to commit suicide.

Acting on the FIR of Aloka Dasgupta, Cachar Police arrested Audit Officer Yogendra Pandey as after primary investigation, prima facie it appeared that he abetted Kuldeep to commit suicide.

Today, family members, relatives and friends of Kuldeep Dasgupta held a press conference at his residence regarding his unnatural death. Speaking to reporters Kuldeep’s sister Anindita Roy said, “We want higher officials of SBI to start an internal investigation against Pandey. Everyone who aided Pandey should be punished as per law. We want justice from higher officials of SBI. We have faith in police and we hope that they will handle the case well till the end like they have been doing since the beginning. Officials at the GM level might not know what’s happening in every branch branch of SBI as it is a nationalised bank. Hence we want officials at the top level of SBI like the Managing Director and General Manager to intervene and dig out the truth from within the organisation. Pandey is a member of SBI fraternity and hence higher officials of the bank should sort out the issue and take appropriate steps as required. We are optimistic that another employee of SBI Shibu Nath named in the FIR will come under the purview of investigation by police and they will find out the truth by interrogating him.”

Madhumita Sinha, a friend of Kuldeep told reporters, “I know Kuldeep pretty well and he stood by us whenever required. That is how we all friends know him. He was like a brother to me. He was not that sort of boy who would commit suicide and was surely pressurised to end his life. We met during last Kali Puja and he told me to go home and teach my daughter as she is an HSLC candidate. SBI lost a member of their fraternity and we hope that they will take steps alongwith Cachar Police to punish the culprits involved.”

Aloka Dasgupta, Kuldeep’s mother; Madhumita Singha, Kuldeep’s friend; Pinak Roy, Kuldeep’s brother-in-law; Suman Das, Kuldeep’s friend; Anindita Roy, Kuldeep’s sister; Prasenjit Dasgupta, Kuldeep’s brother were present in the press conference held at his home.