A businessman, who allegedly sent defamatory e-mails against a bank manager, has landed behind bars, police said on Thursday. The employee, who filed a complaint against businessman Aditya Naveen Kumar, is a senior manager with Syndicate Bank in Hyderabad.

Kumar, who has an advertising business here, bore grudge against the banker as he suspected that the latter might be responsible for bringing down his business, Additional DGP, CID, S V Ramana Murthy said.

Investigations established that Kumar had approached the complainant (in 2007) who works at Syndicate Bank Regional Office, for his business. Initially, the complainant gave contracts like brochure printing and putting up flex, glow sign boards to Kumar and the same continued till 2008.

From 2009 onwards, tender process was introduced and due to this the accused could not procure much business, he said.

"In pursuance of his intention, Kumar created a fictitious email ID and transmitted abusive/defamatory emails to higher ups of Syndicate Bank (Head Office), Bangalore defaming the complainant that he is taking bribes from the contractors, influencing officers for stopping his transfer from Hyderabad," Murthy said.

However, no action was taken against the complainant as all the allegations against him were disproved in an internal probe made by the bank's vigilance department. (More) PTI VVK RSY

But Kumar again sent e-mails to the officials of Syndicate Bank using foul language for not taking action against the complainant, the CID official said.

After this, the banker lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police of CID on March 23 this year, stating that anonymous e-mails containing malicious allegations were being sent to his senior officials for the last 18 months.

During investigations, Kumar was arrested yesterday and he has confessed to the offence, Murthy said.

Kumar was produced before a local court today which remanded him in 14-day judicial custody. The businessman is lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here.