EXCLUSIVE: “Denied Salary, Abrupt Transfer, Left in Silence” – SBI Officer Raises Voice against Injustice And Work-Place Toxicity

An inside source from State Bank of India (SBI) told Kanal, a senior officer & a star performer who is part of the SBI family for 18 years, is undergoing months of harassment, salary stoppage, and retaliatory transfers. The source says that the victim is raising grave questions over employee rights and defunct HR practices in India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB) & a Model Employer. The author of this report could gather enough information on this issue and access the document of the victim.

Vikas Soni, serving as Chief Manager (DVAS) under RBO Akola, Maharashtra, documented his ordeal in a series of detailed letters addressed to SBI’s top management including the Chairman, Managing Director and Circle authorities. His several representations, also marked to the Chief General Manager of Maharashtra Circle, paint a disturbing picture of prolonged financial denial, health neglect, and officially chosen silence from almost all top executes.

Image: Letter (Part 1) by Vikas Soni to the MD of Retail Business & Operations (SBI), Corporate Centre, Mumbai.

Image: Letter (Part 2) by Vikas Soni to the MD of Retail Business & Operations (SBI), Corporate Centre, Mumbai.

Salary Stopped & House Rental Put on Hold
According to Vikas, his salary and allowances were withheld for over 11 months, even as he continued to discharge official duties at Akola. Despite submitting medical records, he claimed that his controllers pressured him to attend office but pay on hold and derived sadistic pleasure with alienation despite his exemplary services at Akola and remained ignorant.

“No salary slips were issued, no medical bills reimbursed, no house rental or dependent allowances cleared. My earned salary since July 2024 has been enforced to remain unpaid,” he cited in his letter. 

The source spoke to Kanal conveyed that, despite all the issues Vikas is facing, this courageous official even having faith in the bank’s system keeps on escalating the many issues and other staff welfare related suggestions to top management in anticipation that one day some one will listen and resolve. But all his efforts go for a toss. But his voice still persists and seems he refused to move back even an inch to bow down to toxic work culture and top brass. Even his permission to go Legal and approach Indian Judiciary with the Labour Court is still awaited since months and reaps no fruit till date.

Image: Vikas Soni raising voice for other employees and their families.

The officer stressed in his letters that this created not only financial turmoil but also aggravated his family’s mental health, forcing him to survive without basic sustenance while managing official responsibilities by way of depriving his Right to Life and Right to Livelihood.

Harassment Allegations and Abrupt Transfer
According to another SBI officer, instead of addressing Vikas’ concerns, he was issued threatening letters and an abrupt transfer order to a lower scale branch. In June 2025, he was moved to Aheri branch in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, a remote location, which seems to be termed as “a punishment posting” designed to deter employees from raising genuine grievances & true concerns.

“A Star performer across his tenure at SBI and a hard-core loyalist  was compelled to perceive this abrupt transfer as retaliation, an attempt to silence his voice forever and remain shut. Rather than resolving his salary and health issues, he was pushed into more uncertainty,” the other officer added.

Vikas also alleged discriminatory behaviour, hostile silence, and denial of communication from his controllers, which he believes amounted to targeted harassment and befitted reply to people who raise honest and unfiltered voices against the system's defunct HR.

Request for Invoking Constitutional Rights
The officer's request for invoking Constitutional Rights was never entertained and his permission withheld by bank not allowing him to proceed legally.

In his letter, Vikas cited key constitutional protections:
Article 21 – Right to Life and Livelihood.
Article 23 – Prohibition of forced labour, which he equated with compelled service without pay.
Article 300A – Right to Property, violated when earned salary is withheld.

Quoting Labour Court's interpretations, he stated in the letter that denial of substantial wages without justification is a violation of fundamental rights. “Begar, or forced labour, cannot be imposed by withholding rightful remuneration,” he noted.

Image: Letter (Part 1) by Vikas Soni to the MD (SBI) of Mumbai Metro City and CGM Arvind Kumar Singh (SBI) Maharashtra Circle.

Image: Letter (Part 2) by Vikas Soni to the MD (SBI) of Mumbai Metro City and CGM Arvind Kumar Singh (SBI) Maharashtra Circle.

Impact on Finances, Health and Family
The source described Vikas’ severe deterioration of health due to lack of salary, inability to pay for medical care, and absence of official support. With family members dependent on him, the prolonged uncertainty compounded stress and anxiety.

“Continuous harassment, chosen silence on communications, and coercive transfers have left me and my family in turmoil. My career growth, professional dignity, and financial security stand crushed,” he wrote. But it seems he continues his fight not only for him but for others.

A Larger Question on HR Practices
According to some other bankers, while the case is personal but the issue is not, it raises broader questions about how grievances are addressed in PSBs and SBI Employees often work under high pressure, and delays in salary or medical reimbursement can have life-altering consequences and risk to many lives who are associated.

By intention to accede with invoking constitutional rights and labor laws, Vikas’ letter shifts the debate beyond internal HR disputes to fundamental rights of all employees. The issue reflects on the accountability of management in ensuring staff welfare, especially when the institution is a public sector undertaking.

Call for Justice
Vikas has appealed to top executives to permit him for intervention from courts, labour authorities, and senior management to secure his pending dues, restore dignity at work, and prevent recurrence of such practices.

“I cannot accept this injustice. Justice is available for all, irrespective of any discrimination. My struggle is not just for myself, but for many like me,” his concluding appeal reads.

As of now, no official response has been placed on record by SBI management in this case.

The episode underlines a sensitive and pressing issue: when a bank is alleged to have denied its own officer’s livelihood, questions of accountability of erring management including top Management and humane governance cannot remain unanswered.