Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Panels to probe lapses in coop. sector

Special Correspondent

TDB has recommended Crime Branch probe into Sabarimala issue: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has formed a State Monitoring and Review Committee and 14 district-level committees comprising Cooperative Department officials to probe charges of financial misappropriation, corruption and nepotism in the cooperative sector. The probe will also cover irregularities in the State Cooperative Bank.

Cooperation and Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran told reporters here on Monday that the apex committee was being headed by Additional Registrar (Credit) K.V. Suresh Babu. Additional Registrar (Audit) Jessymol Joseph, Additional Registrar (Consumer) R. Madhavan and Joint Registrar (Marketing) K.V. Koman are the members and Joint Registrar (Vigilance) S. Rajachan is the convener. A Joint Registrar (General) is in charge of each district committee. It also has a Joint Registrar (Audit) as member and an Assistant Registrar as convener.

During the past two months, the Cooperative Department has received 2,000 complaints on various issues including corruption, financial misappropriation and irregularities in cooperative societies. Complaints have been raised about irregularities ranging between Rs.200 crores and Rs.500 crores in the State Cooperative Bank. These include sanctioning of loans to individuals and institutions in violation of norms. The district committees have been told to submit their reports within 45 days and the apex committee within 60 days

The inquiry is not intended to wreak vengeance on political foes and no specific timeframe has been fixed by the Government. But complaints are aplenty about the functioning of the societies and banks during the past five years. The probe will be on the basis of facts furnished before the committees, he said.

Mr. Sudhakaran clarified that he had no intention to denigrate IAS officers who had a significant role in the State's administration. He had only mentioned about the irregularities in the State Cooperative Bank and also about the Managing Director. There are many efficient IAS officers like L. Radhakrishnan and Sarada Muralidharan in the Cooperative Department. During his stint as University of Kerala Syndicate member, he had associated with many others.The Travancore Devaswom Board has recommended a Crime Branch inquiry into the controversy of Kannada actor Jayamala's entry into the sanctum sanctorum of Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa temple. Mr. Sudhakaran said that action would be taken on the report submitted by the board immediately. The Government does not intend to interfere in the functions of the board or alter the traditions and customs of the temple, he said.

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