Kottayam: The police have registered a cheating case against Kuttanad Vikasana Samiti (KVS) executive director Fr. Thomas Peelianickal.
Fr. Peelianickal was booked on a complaint filed by a group of six persons hailing from Mithrakary village in Kuttanad alleging that the KVS had helped them obtain an agriculture loan of ₹5.40 lakh from a bank and they had given ₹30,000 each to the KVS on the promise of giving it back at the time of loan repayment. The complainants alleged that the KVS office-bearers threatened them when they demanded the money back.
Kuttanad is a region covering the Alappuzha and Kottayam Districts, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its vast paddy fields. KVS is a non-government organisation, which was set up to pioneer the cause of farmers in the area.
Sub-Inspector of Police Mahesh K.L. told The Hindu that the case was registered under Sections 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code.
Mr. Mahesh said further probe in the case would be conducted by a Crime Branch team already investigating the alleged agriculture loan fraud in Kuttanad region. Sources said several groups had obtained agriculture loans after being recommended by the KVS.
Earlier, a Crime Branch probe was ordered based on complaints filed by three farmers from Kavalam alleging that office-bearers of a “non-existent” farmer joint liability group took loan from Canara Bank in their names without their knowledge. According to bank records, six farmers under the aegis of the Karshaka Mithra Nel Karshaka Joint Liability Group took loan of ₹5 lakh in November, 2014. Following this, several people have come forward with allegations.
Sources said the fraud was bigger than initially presumed and investigators were looking into the alleged role of NGOs in the region that helped people to obtain loans in a fraudulent manner in the name of self-help groups.
source: The Hindu