20 Lakh Jewellery Theft from Locker: PNB Meets Faridabad Family After Republic Newsbreak, Allegedly Asks Them to Search for Missing Jewellery at Home

Days after Republic TV highlighted the alleged disappearance of jewellery worth nearly Rs 20 lakh from a Punjab National Bank (PNB) locker in Faridabad, the bank has finally held a meeting with the complainant family. However, instead of providing answers, the family has alleged that senior bank officials asked them to "search for the lost jewellery at their own house", a remark they described as insensitive.

The development comes after Republic TV exposed the family's ordeal and questioned the bank over the alleged disappearance of valuables from Locker No. A-46 at PNB's Railway Road branch in Old Faridabad. Earlier, when Republic TV's reporting team visited the branch seeking the bank's version, security personnel shut the entrance on camera and refused entry, even after the crew sought permission merely to meet the branch manager.

Speaking to Republic TV's Harsh Trivedi after the meeting, the family alleged that they were called by the bank only after Republic's newsbreak. During the meeting, they claim PNB Circle Head Nishant Kumar asked them to first search for the missing jewellery at their own residence instead of explaining how the valuables allegedly disappeared from the bank locker.

Family Alleges Continued Apathy from Bank, Police

According to the FIR, the family had been operating the locker for nearly 12 years before their original key unexpectedly stopped working on July 21. The locker was drilled open on July 28 in the presence of bank officials and was allegedly found completely empty. The missing valuables include around 148.5 grams of gold jewellery and seven antique silver coins, valued at Rs 18.02 lakh in the FIR.

The family has alleged that despite repeated representations, neither senior bank officials nor the investigating authorities have provided satisfactory answers. They maintain that crucial questions surrounding the disappearance of the valuables remain unanswered and have continued to seek an independent investigation into the matter.

No Forced Opening Found, Mystery Remains

Republic TV has accessed FIR No. 206/2026 in the case. Earlier, the Investigating Officer informed Republic TV that a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team had examined the locker and found no signs of forced opening. Despite the forensic findings, the circumstances under which the valuables allegedly disappeared remain unclear.

Earlier, the Station House Officer of Old Faridabad Police Station, Vishnu Mittar, declined to comment on the matter. With the bank finally engaging with the complainants following Republic's report, the family says it expected concrete answers rather than suggestions to search for the missing jewellery at home.