A case of embezzlement was lodged at Dokti police station in Ballia district after Rs 18.5 lakh was found missing from a chest of a Central Bank branch on Tuesday.

While the police suspect bank employees to be behind the incident, the manager has lodged a FIR against unidentified persons. The chest is located at the Lalganj branch of the bank.

Ballia Superintendent of Police Lalji Shukla said: “Manager Shrinath Pandey informed the local police about the incident. Around 1 pm, the cashier reportedly intimated him that a hefty amount was missing from the safe. No outsider had approached the chest, as all the 10 locks were found intact.”

According to Dokti police station SO Narsingh Yadav, primary investigation has revealed that the theft was detected while another monetary transaction was being carried out in the bank.