Bengal govt orders audit into Cooperative Bank Loan ‘Scam’
An FIR has already been ordered in Mangalkot area of Bardhaman district as per the instructions of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the state minister said, adding that more FIRs are likely to follow.
“There was massive corruption in the entire system and farmers became victims of this system,” Kirtania said. he said.
The audit was initiated to investigate allegations of irregularities in disbursement of long-term loans by cooperative banks over the last 15 years during the previous Trinamool Congress government. “I have not set any deadline for the audit as the corruption is multi-layered and involves several billion lira. My officers will conduct the audit and uncover the corruption,” he said.
According to ministry sources, 17 central cooperative banks are currently providing long-term loans. However, recovery of these loans has emerged as a major concern, sources told ET. “Influential people allegedly linked to the previous government had taken out loans that were never repaid. Recovery of funds is also one of our main goals,” the minister said. There are also 24 district cooperative banks that provide long-term loans.
“We will not allow any corruption in the system,” Kirtania told ET. The minister also said that the state government has launched a massive crackdown against irregularities in the ration card distribution system. Distribution of wheat flour through ration shops was stopped and replaced with wheat provided directly by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the beneficiaries of the public distribution system. Kirtania added that he would conduct surprise inspections at ration shops to identify and prevent corruption in the system.
