In recent weeks, the ICICI Bank has lodged FIRs against more than 40 people, who did not pay their vehicular loans and threatened bank employees when they went to them to make recoveries.

Some of the borrowers have even sold the vehicles to criminals and the bank employees are afraid to approach them. Since the vehicles had been mortgaged to bank, the borrowers forged the papers to facilitate transfer of ownership.

The bank’s collection manager, Rohit Arora said: “A few defaulters sold the vehicles to influential persons. When our officials visited them for dues, some denied buying, others scared our staff away.”

Subsequently, the bank filed complaints with the Hazratganj police. Ramesh Babu Mudgal, a BSP leader and chief editor of a magazine Bahujan Pradesh, took loan for a Tata Safari and owes Rs 4,42,232 to the bank. He now faces a FIR. “I might have cleared their dues but now since they have lodged an FIR, I will think it over,” he said.

K D Singh, a block pramukh in Jaunpur, took a bank manager hostage a few months ago after being served with a reminder. A bank official said, “Police raided Singh’s house and recovered two vehicles .”

B K Garbiyal, CO of Hazratganj, said: “If the bank comes with court’s order, we will take action against the accused.”