Alappuzha: Fr. Thomas Peelianickal, executive director, Kuttanad Vikasana Samiti (KVS), who was arrested by the Crime Branch team in connection with the agri loan fraud, was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the Judicial First class Magistrate’s Court, Ramankari, on Wednesday.
The CB team led by district Crime Branch DySP registered his arrest on Wednesday and produced him in the court by 1 p.m. He had been booked under IPC sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).
Apart from Fr Peelianickal, the others booked are Rojo Joseph, member, Veliyanad block panchayat, Thresya Alex, office assistant, KVS, Thomas Joseph, president, Karshakamithram self-help group, and secretary Devassya alias Saji.
The court dismissed the arguments of Fr Peelianickal’s counsel that he had only recommended the joint liability groups to the banks and that he had nothing to do with the alleged fraud. His arrest came after the farmers of Kavalam filed a complaint alleging that the office-bearers of a non-existent farmer joint liability group had taken loans from Canara Bank in their names without their knowledge.
