Both the political parties-Congress and AAP are busy blaming each other in the deep running scam in Delhi Nagrik Sehkari Bank. Little do they realize the damage the incident has inflicted on the co-operative movement in the state.
Under pressure from the AAP govt, Delhi Chief Secretary M.M.Kutty (who is held as close to former CM Shiela Dixit) appeared before a Delhi Assembly panel, which had summoned him in the matter. Sources say the top bureaucrat apprised the Assembly’s Questions and Reference Committee that a show cause notice was issued to a former Registrar of Cooperative Society for not responding to queries raised by the panel.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker of Delhi Assembly had alleged that the bureaucrat had “misled” the Delhi High Court in a matter related to alleged illegal appointments and promotions in the Delhi Nagrik Sehkari Bank.
Earlier, an investigation done by committees of Delhi assembly has revealed that only 14,657 members of the supposed 67,000 of the Delhi Nagrik Sehkari Bank actually existed. A part of the answer to the riddle can be found in the bank account of a junior clerk, which saw a trail of payments amounting to Rs 18.67 lakh-for “opening accounts of prospective new members”.
The bank has been mired in political controversy, with AAP slamming Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, alleging that she “knew about the scam”.
With nearly 78 per cent of its members existing only on paper, the case of the junior bank clerk has become relevant, sources in the probe committee said.
Readers would recall that addressing the press last week, AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit knew about the ‘scam in Delhi Nagarik Sahakari bank but she did not take any action. Ms Dikshit went out of her way to shield M.M.Kutty (present chief secretary), who was then principal secretary.
Bhardwaj further said 80 percent of the loans worth crores of rupees were given based on fake documents and 58 per cent of the loans had turned into NPAs.
“The many selected candidates were related to the chairman and directors in one way or another. It cannot be a sheer coincidence,” Mr Bharadwaj added. He said of the 67,000 members of the bank, only 14,000 were found to be real. The Congress leaders were involved in the scam, he said.