Budget session: Law Min. HK Patil introduces Microfinance bill in Karnataka assembly
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Micro Loan and Small Loan (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Ordinance 2025 was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, March 6. The bill is being introduced with the motive of protecting borrowers from harassment by money lending mafias.
During the session, Law Minister H.K. Patil introduced the bill on behalf of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Assembly proceedings.
Speaking during the session, Patil highlighted that the lenders often force borrowers to pay high interest. The bill is being proposed with the intention of protecting and relieving the economically vulnerable groups and individuals from harassment of lenders.
“It has been observed that microfinance institutions or lending institutions engaged in the purchase and sale of agricultural commodities or providing loans to the poor and taking the principal in cash or in kind with interest, are found to be resorting to high interest rates, undue hardship, coercion and inhumane recovery,” he said.
The proposed Bill aims to create an effective mechanism to regulate microfinance institutions or lending agencies or institutions operating in the State to protect economically weaker groups and individuals, especially women and women self-help groups.
The bill proposes imprisonment for up to ten years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh for those found guilty of forced and inhuman debt collection. In addition, the bill proposes a law that the state government has already enacted through an ordinance.
The bill aims to regulate unregistered moneylenders operating within the legal framework, ensure protection of fundamental rights, and apply to unregistered and unregulated moneylenders without falling under the purview of the RBI. It does not prohibit legal moneylenders. However, it is mentioned that it prohibits forced collections.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
