CBI arrests IOB union leader in job scam

Chennai, Dec 5 (IANS) The CBI Thursday said it has arrested L.Balasubramanian, president, All India Overseas Bank Employees Union (AIOBEU) in connection with a scam in the recruitment of 950 temporary messengers and sweepers in Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).

In a statement issued here, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Balasubramanian was arrested and produced before a CBI court.

"Further searches were conducted at 18 places throughout Tamil Nadu in this regard," CBI said.

According to CBI, all the regional secretaries, vice president and general secretary of AIOBEU and few bank officials were arrested recently in the connection with the case.

The CBI said Balasubramanian, a retired IOB employee and union leader, was the kingpin of the IOB job scam, being instrumental in designing the permanent absorption scheme to extract illegal gratification from the candidates over a period of time.

According to CBI, the investigation further revealed that Balasubramanian was instrumental in introducing age and educational qualifications criteria to get a better platform for manipulation and negotiation with candidates.

"He was instrumental in getting some candidates who were his house helps absorbed in IOB and he also directed the Regional Union Representatives to collect illegal gratification from probable candidates … he is the main beneficiary of the same," the CBI said.

According to the agency, the vacancies were also manipulated and recruitment was divided into phases to have greater scope for demanding illegal gratification.

"Most of the candidates so recruited were found ineligible and were subsequently terminated from service," it said.

"It is a disgrace to the banking trade union movement," a union leader told IANS.