PESHAWAR, Jan 24: A local court on Thursday granted bail to three officials of a bank charged with fraudulently withdrawing money from the account of a private university.

The court of judicial magistrate, Naeematullah Khan, directed that the three applicants -- manager United Bank Limited, Warsak Road Branch, Zahoorullah Khan, operational manager Qazi Shukeeb and cashier Ameen Said -- should be released after furnishing of two surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

The applicants were arrested after their pre-arrest bail applications were dismissed by an additional sessions judge on Dec 21, 2007.

They were charged by the vice chancellor of Qurtaba University, Dera Ismail Khan, in an FIR registered at Michni Gate police station on Dec 3.

The complainant stated that the accused had fraudulently withdrawn Rs850,000 from the university’s account in the said bank. The complainant alleged that the accused persons had withdrawn it on the basis of a cheque which was never issued by them.

Barrister Adnan Rohaila appeared for the applicant and contended that the applicants had fulfilled all the legal and procedural requirements while paying the said money to the person who brought the required cheque.