BATHINDA, Nov. 20 -- The State Bank of India (SI) has returned Rs.8 crore to aggrieved account holders, who were victims of financial fraud perpetrated by the bank's cashier Amit Dhingra, at its Sadiq branch in Faridkot district, officials said.

SBI said it initially pegged the fraud amount to be close to Rs.15 crore, but a scrutiny of records by the bank later pegged the bungling to Rs.8 crore.

SBI regional manager Harpreet Singh on Wednesday said that initially the bank had received complaints claiming that the account holders had been cheated to the tune of Rs.15 crore.

"About 200 individuals had come forward with complaints that a bank cashier, Amit Dhingra, had cheated them out of crores of rupees. The bank details of all complain...