Thiruvananthapuram: A confidential verification by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has found irregularities to the tune of Rs 80.3 lakh in the micro-finance schemes.
The VACB stated this before the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Court (Vigilance) here on Wednesday while considering a petition filed by Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan against SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan. Mr. Achuthanandan had alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 15 crore in the SNDP's micro-finance scheme.
Vigilance legal advisor C.C. Augustine stated before the court that though the Vigilance had recommended disciplinary action against Mr N. Najeeb, former managing director of Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation (KSBCDC), in connection with the irregularities, no action could be initiated as he had retired from service.
It was revealed in the confidential verification that many loans were sanctioned on the basis of fake names and documents. Counsel for Mr. Achuthanandan maintained that though several inquiries had detected irregularities by the district officers of the corporation, no action was taken. He also alleged that the SNDP had not furnished the details of fund utilisation to the corporation during 2013-15. The court posted the petition for further hearing to January 11. The Vigilance legal advisory was directed to submit the confidential verification report.
Apart from Mr. Natesan and Mr Najeeb, SNDP Yogam president N. Soman and finance coordinator K.M. Mahesan were also arraigned in the case. VS had alleged that as per the agreement with
KSBCDC, loans to self-help groups can be given at the maximum interest rate of five per cent. However, Mr Vellapally and company violated the agreement to collect interest rates at 18 per cent. Meanwhile, sources said that since the confidential verification had detected corruption, the VACB would be under pressure to register a case and conduct investigation.
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