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Kumar Pillai (CEO)     12 December 2014

Unauthorised cash withdrawal

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is related to our uncle and aunt who died without any siblings.  A few years prior to their death in 2011 and 2014 respectively, they were invalid and a few months bed ridden.  During the period a few of their known people and relatives have been attending to them.  

Now the legal heirs are in the process of partitioning the intestate property of uncles father who died intestate.  Then the Bank Accounts of Uncle and aunt (who were in very senior positions with Govt.) came up.  It is found that while they were invalid, both their ATM cards were used for withdrawal of funds for their so called upkeep by some one.  It is found  and confirmed that There are no written permissions what so ever given to of the banks for this.  

Now it is found that after the demise of Uncle and aunt, there is a information that cash has been withdrawn using the ATM cards.

Unfortunately, the people around uncle and aunt have kept the whole details of bank account secret till date.

My query are :

1.Which category this falls under --  

2.Withdrawal of cash with ATM of a person after his death is considered under which category? --

3.what will be the ideal step to follow up on the matter.  

4.Since the uncle expired in 2011,

5.Can the issue be taken up with the bank after 3 years regarding ATM misuse/

Please provide me with your legal advise on the above.

Thanking you,

Kumar.



Learning

 4 Replies

Hardeep (Business)     13 December 2014

1) Withdrawl from ATM using the correct password implies authority was given to the drawer.

2) Right step should have been by anyone with prima facie proof as an heir to request all the banks to freeze all accounts and ATM cards till the estate is divided, as soon as death occurred. in its absence the Bank is not deficient. See :

Smt.Mitali Saha & anr Vs. ANZ Grindlays Bank- 2004 (1) CPR 128 SCDRC (WB)

3) After a period of 3 years, generally, the laws of limitation also come in and it becomes all the more difficult to pursue a case.

DISCLAIMER : General information and advice provided is without any warranties as to suitability for any use, correctness and application to any specific case. Please always take proper legal counsel . However, if it helped anyone even a little a " thanks" via the " Thank Contributor " button would be appreciated and would encourage me to keep on making efforts :-) . I am also always open to corrections and further learnings from more experienced Seniors here.

Kumar Doab (FIN)     13 December 2014

Approach an able lawyer and the lawyermay opine that ccomplaint against the person that has withdrawn funds has to be lodged.....

Kumar Pillai (CEO)     13 December 2014

Thank you for the reply.  Is there a provision to file a case with the local police and the Bank stating that a fraud has happened and will they take it from there by filing an FIR based on the complaint?

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate)     15 December 2014

It will not be possible to lodge a complaint against the person who has withdrawn the amount without any evidence, moreover, the legal heirs have to prove themselves as heirs in interest for lodging a complaint, however, recovery after three years will be barred by limitation.


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