A Timeline of Trauma: A Woman Banker Allegedly Faced Systemic Harassment, Pregnancy Loss & Repeated Denial of Transfer

Kanal Media has accessed information from a source familiar with a disturbing case involving a woman officer of a Public Sector Bank (PSB), who reportedly faced a series of procedural violations, intimidation, and insensitive handling between 2020 and 2025. The case raises serious questions on the implementation of employee welfare guidelines, especially for women officers, and the internal accountability structure within the bank.

A Clash Over Loan Sanctioning Norms
According to sources, the officer took charge as Field Officer at a semi-urban Scale-4 branch in Chinsurah, West Bengal, in June 2020. Differences reportedly began when she refused to process loan proposals with disputed titles and poor credit scores, proposals favoured by the Branch Manager. Internal notes indicate that this disagreement laid the foundation for later conflict.

Election Duty, Illness and Negative Reporting
In April 2021, the officer was deployed for election duty under tough conditions, after which she fell ill. Despite having approved leave for her brother’s wedding, the Branch Manager allegedly began sending negative feedback about her attendance to the Regional Office.

Transfer Request Suppressed
By August 2021, the officer sought a spouse-ground transfer after her husband was transferred to Kolkata. Sources say the Branch Manager did not forward her transfer request and repeatedly misled her by claiming it had been submitted.

Forced Travel Amid Pregnancy
Her second pregnancy was confirmed in December 2021. Internal correspondence suggests she again sought a transfer due to the difficulty of living alone near the branch with her first child who was 4.5 years old that time.

Instead of forwarding the request, the Branch Manager allegedly advised her to shift to Kolkata and “manage” with occasional sick leave, forcing her into a 160 km daily commute during pregnancy.

Collapse, Emergency Treatment and Loss of Pregnancy
On 19 March 2022, she reportedly collapsed at home from exhaustion-related dizziness and sustained injuries. Medical records reveal that she later suffered internal bleeding, followed by the loss of her pregnancy.

Despite being informed, the Branch Manager allegedly insisted that home-loan files be completed before 25 March.

VVS Notice, Salary Stoppage and Rejected Leave
Just days after the medical emergency, a Voluntary Vacation of Service (VVS) notice was sent to her home, despite the provision applying only when an employee remains absent for over 90 days without intimation.

Sources further confirm:
She was marked unauthorised absent.
Her salary was stopped.
Leave for miscarriage, guaranteed under women-centric HR policies, was twice rejected.
A medical board was initiated to “verify” her pregnancy and abortion.

According to the source, she was even humiliated in the branch WhatsApp group.

Complaints Closed Repeatedly Without Action
Between 2021 and 2022, the officer escalated complaints through the Regional Office, Zonal Office, Local Head Office and Corporate Centre. Each complaint was reportedly closed without meaningful inquiry.

According to individuals aware of the case, the Branch Manager previously served as PA to a senior executive and had a reputation for influence within the system.

Performance Rating Lowered, Promotion Lost
Her internal rating was downgraded from AAA to A, which sources say led to her missing a promotion cycle.

Mental Health Collapse and External Escalation
The ongoing harassment reportedly pushed the officer into severe psychological distress, requiring psychiatric treatment.

Complaints were then filed with the Women’s Commission and the PMO, and her family escalated the matter to the bank’s Chairperson. A public post on social media drew broader attention to the case.

A fresh inquiry began, though the source claimed the initial questioning focused more on the officer’s conduct than the Branch Manager’s decisions.

Partial Relief After Escalation
Around August–September 2022:
The Branch Manager was transferred to Port Blair,
Her salary and leave records were corrected,
She was posted closer to home.

However, sustained workplace chatter reportedly made it difficult for her to continue, leading her to take a two-year sabbatical.

Fresh Harassment Over Transfer During Medical Emergency
As her sabbatical neared closure, the officer faced a new challenge, her father-in-law’s cancer treatment required shifting to Delhi. Her husband was transferred there, and she sought a spouse-ground transfer with supporting medical records.

Despite DFS guidelines and bank policies allowing such applications anytime, her request was allegedly rejected with the reasoning that it was “not submitted through the portal”, even though the transfer portal was closed during the relevant period.

Resignation Filed, But Decision Kept Pending
Feeling cornered by prolonged procedural blocks, the officer submitted her resignation. According to sources, the resignation too has been kept pending without a decision.

A Case That Raises Broader Institutional Concerns
According to the source, the case highlights several systemic issues:
-Inconsistent application of transfer rules.
-Repeated rejection of legitimate medical leave.
-misuse of VVS provisions.
-Lack of effective redressal mechanisms.
-Disproportionate influence of individual officials.

Multiple women officers spoke to Kanal Media till now indicating that such cases are not isolated within the banking ecosystem, calling for stronger oversight and accountability.