Misuse of funds: Farmers' protest against bank officials

Alleging misuse of funds by bank officials, farmers staged a protest holding bottles containing poison, threatening to commit suicide, in front of Vijaya Bank at Keregodu in the taluk on Thursday.

The farmers of K Gowdagere, S I Kodihalli and other villages charged that the funds, which were to be disbursed among them as crop loan and for purchasing livestock, have been embezzled by the bank staffers.

They claimed that a contract employee with the bank had collected necessary documents from the beneficiaries and had even taken signatures on the cheques from gullible villagers, but had not released the loan.

The farmers threatened to commit suicide by consuming poison if the authorities concerned fail to take suitable action against the corrupt officials.

The victims are Rajashekar, who was cheated of Rs 95,000; Gayathri of Rs 3.45 lakh; Padma, Shivashankar, K N Shilparani, Nandish, Nagamma, Sarojamma, Kalamma Rs 1 lakh each; P Ramakrishna Rs 3.40 lakh; Chowdeshwari Rs 3.85 lakh; and Venkatesh was cheated of Rs 40,000.

Complaints have been lodgedagainst contract worker Ravish and bank manager Anand Murari by Rajashekar at Keregodu police station. Ravish has already been arrested.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Rajashekar complained that an application for Rs 2.5 lakh was accepted and signatures taken after verifying the land records. He was paid Rs 1 lakh and was assured that the remaining amount would be sanctioned and paid soon.

Later, it was known that the total amount had been sanctioned, but the officials had misused it, he claimed. However, manager Anand said police investigation is on and an official probe has also begun. The previous manager has been transferred. Suitable action would be taken after getting the report, he added.