3 held for fraud with Kangra cooperative bank

The Una Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau today arrested three persons, including an employee of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB), for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds in the name of the polyhouse scheme under which farmers are given a subsidy of 80 per cent of the cost of the unit.

Sagar Chand, ASP, Una vigilance bureau, said that in March this year, the KCCB had lodged a complaint with their office for investigation into a series of irregularities in Gagret, Panjawar and Kutheda Jaswalan panchayats of Una district with regard to the polyhouse financing scheme.

He said that in March 2015, mastermind of the scam Kuldip Chand, who was working in the loan department of the bank, sanctioned a bogus loan in the name of Balwinder Singh of Kutheda Jaswalan panchayat for a polyhouse unit, the subsidy amount on which was Rs 15 lakh. This was done without the knowledge of the beneficiary and hence the polyhouse was never constructed. However, the first subsidy installment of Rs 11.26 lakh released by the government was credited to the bank account of Madan Lal of Amb.

Later, another subsidy installment of Rs 3.74 lakh was diverted to the bank account of Dinesh Kumar of Kutheda Jaswalan village. Both Madan Lal and Dinesh Kumar had nothing to do with the polyhouse scheme, but had connived with Kuldip. The subsidy amounts from both bank accounts were later withdrawn and allegedly shared by the three accused – mastermind Kuldip Chand, Madan Lal and Dinesh Kumar.

Meanwhile, victim Balwinder started receiving notices from the bank when the loan amount swelled to Rs 23 lakh, said Sagar Chand. Another bogus loan of Rs 5 lakh for starting a shuttering business that he never took also stood against the name of Balwinder in the KCCB branch.

The ASP said that a case under the IPC and the HP Prevention of Specific Corrupt Practices Act had been registered against the trio.