Page 220 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

He justified it saying, "If I approve local bill purchase for you, others will
create problem for me." I told him, "This was a demand draft and not a
cheque that might bounce as it happened in case of some staff members
quite often and such practice had to be stopped. Moreover, you have
already sanctioned me Rs. 80,000/- loan for the car. Thirdly, the amount
of this Demand Draft given today along with the Car Loan amount will
be going to Maruti on behalf bank as single Demand Draft for Rs.
1,60,000/- for booking the car. The car will be hypothecated (legal interest
created) in favor of our bank as a security for the loan. Moreover, I am
Head of your Credit Department. Then, there should be no reason to
mistrust on realization of demand draft drawn on other public sector bank
for which payment has been made to them by me."

I further told him, "I would have to take one day leave to get this Demand
Draft cancelled and to get issued a new one in favour of Maruti that I
can avoid as we have lot of work in office." But he was unmoved even
after all the above logical reasoning. He told me not to insist on this. He
bluntly told me to take leave. I was shocked and upset with this irrational
behavior. First, he refused to understand the difference between a
demand draft and a cheque. Then, I didn't think it as fair that a Senior
Manager who is already trusted to head the Credit Department, can't be
relied upon for a personal loan based on demand draft to be cleared in
two days. Even the staff knew the difference between purchase of a
cheque and the demand draft and there could have been surely no issue
from other staff.

The news reached the office bearers of the local unit of Officers
Association. They came to me and told that they wanted to meet The
Branch Chief to get this local demand draft purchased. I did not want to
create a scene as I was quite new being first time posted in this city and
did not want to pressurize my Chief when I could easily manage the whole
issue by taking leave for the next day. I managed the booking of my car.

This episode left an indelible impression on my mind. I realized that if he

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