A high-profile BJP cooperator and the Chairman of Durg-based multi-purpose cooperative SBACO- Shree Balram Agriculture (Produce and Marketing) Cooperative Society, Preetpal Belchandan has been accused of swindling members’ money in crores by an inquiry conducted by the Joint Registrar on a complaint.
Preetpal is an emerging BJP cooperator from Chhattisgarh who is invited to take part in high profile meetings of BJP cooperators even at its headquarters at Ashoka Road in Delhi, says source on condition of anonymity. He was also there in the recently concluded meeting with Shyam Jaju and Ram Lal- two senior BJP leaders.
On the complaint of Shankar Lal Tamarkar, Durg Joint Registrar ordered an inquiry and found him guilty of wrong-doings. Tamarkar had accused him of squandering Rs 9.75 crore in Borai village. Also, he is accused of investing Rs 2.27 crore of the society’s money in Durg Central Cooperative Bank, of which he is the chairman.
The order of the Joint Registrar Surya Lal Vishwakarma said that the Chairman Belchandan is to be expelled from the board within 30 days and the same has to be intimated to the office of Registrar by the Board.
SBACO Board, which met later however absolved Belchandan of all the charges and placed its resolution before the Joint Registrar. Those opposing Belchandan say that like most of the cooperative boards SBACO board is also a puppet at the hands of the powerful Chairman.
The multi-purpose co-operative society has set up a bio-fertilizer plant and an agricultural lab over a 60 acre piece of land near Durg.
The Registrar meanwhile is mulling over its next course of action.
Defending himself Belchandan argues that the charges against him are all baseless and his opponents earlier took the matter to the Assembly with little results. Our members and Directors have faith in me and that is all that matters for me,” he added.
He also said there is a High Court order in the matter and that the Registrar has been asked not to proceed in the matter. On request for a copy of the order Belchandan was however evasive. “Will give you when I come to Delhi next time”- is what he said.
Meanwhile, we have begun distributing organic fertilizer for the upcoming season in a big way, Belchandan added. Presently, there are 35 thousand members connected to the SBACO and its authorized share capital counts Rs. 20 crore, he added.
