The Ministry of Cooperation has ordered a formal inspection into the functioning of Viswadeepthi Multi-State Agri Cooperative Society Ltd., based in Annur, Tamil Nadu, following multiple complaints from depositors alleging non-payment of matured deposits.
Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, the Society has come under scrutiny after members Mrs. Philomina Varghese, Mrs. Lilly Chummar, and Chellakudam Sanikutty Chummar filed formal complaints on March 27, 2025, citing non-receipt of their deposit amounts. Despite directions from the Office of the Central Registrar to respond with an action taken report within seven days, the Society failed to comply.
Additionally, the matter was referred to the Office of the Cooperative Ombudsman, which also confirmed through its periodic status report dated April 4, 2025, that it had received numerous complaints regarding non-payment of matured deposits by the Society.
In light of the mounting grievances and lack of response from the Society, the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Rabindra Kumar Agarwal, has invoked Section 108 of the MSCS Act, 2002. He has authorized Sachin Sharma, Deputy Director, Regional Office–Chennai of the National Cooperative Development Corporation, to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the Society’s operations within 30 days and submit a detailed report.
This move is seen as a significant step towards ensuring accountability in multi-State cooperative societies, many of which are under increasing scrutiny for financial mismanagement.
The inspection report will determine the future course of action against the Society, which may include regulatory or penal measures under the MSCS Act, 2002 and rules framed thereunder.
I am also one of the aggrieved in this regard from Kerala.
My deposit which matured in February, 2025, has not yet been paid. The officials of the society remain unreachable either by phone or by email. It is obvious that there has been some malpractices going on for quite some time–many members have not received their interest payment, and also the office staff have not been paid salaries for a long time.
I am also approaching the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies for resolution of my grievance.
I urge other aggrieved members/depositors to do the same at the earliest so that the Ministry of Co-operation will take note of the issues and do the needful to safeguard the interests of the members/depositors.