Subodh Kumar Rastogi, a former branch manager at Bank of Baroda's Balrampur branch in Uttar Pradesh, has been sentenced to four years in prison by a special CBI court in Lucknow. The conviction, delivered on November 2, 2026, also includes a fine of ₹30,000, following a bribery case registered in 2015.
The Bribery Allegations
The case began with a complaint from a businessman who had secured a ₹5 lakh loan from Bank of Baroda to expand his solar lights venture. After an initial disbursement of ₹1.25 lakh as a term loan, Rastogi allegedly demanded approximately ₹25,000 under the guise of chartered accountant fees, stamp paper costs, and file processing charges.
Subsequently, when the complainant received ₹3.75 lakh as a cash credit limit, Rastogi reportedly demanded an additional ₹25,000 as a bribe. He allegedly threatened to close the businessman's account if the payment was not made. Following this demand, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) set up a trap. Rastogi was caught red-handed accepting ₹10,000 from the complainant as an illicit payment.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
The CBI had registered the case on October 26, 2015, and filed its chargesheet on December 18, 2015. After a thorough trial, the special CBI court found Rastogi guilty of the charges. The court's verdict, delivered nearly 11 years after the case was first registered, underscores a firm stance against corruption within financial institutions.