Karnataka govt plans to constitute SIT to probe scams in city-based cooperative banks: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Apr 24: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the state government is planning to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe alleged scams in city-based cooperative banks, and claimed the involvement of BJP leaders in them.
The state Congress chief was referring to alleged financial frauds involving Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank, its sister concern Sri Guru Sarvabhauma Souharda Credit Cooperative Ltd and Sri Vasista Credit Souharda Sahakari Ltd, which come under the Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency limits.
Shivakumar said a group of depositors met Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday here before she left to Kerala for campaigning, and submitted her a petition seeking justice.
ALSO READ: 'At least come for my funeral...,' Cong chief Kharge's emotional pitch at rally on home turf
"There are three lakh depositors who have suffered. Some 300 of them have since died, and many of them are senior citizens...When the BJP was in power, they promised to hand it (probe) over to the CBI. But our government (on coming to power) gave it to the CBI....But since BJP leaders are involved and they have indulged in the fraud, the CBI has neither registered a case nor has started inquiry," he told reporters.
"Priyanka Gandhi has asked Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) and me (Shivakumar) to consider constituting an SIT and take action in accordance with law. Immediately after the election, we will decide on this and ensure justice," he said.
"Your hard earned savings have been taken by BJP leaders. It shouldn't have happened," Shivakumar said, urging depositors to stay strong and assuring that the government will try to protect their interest.
Siddaramaiah had in December last year approved handing over the probe into alleged scams at the three cooperative banks to CBI.
According to reports, irregularities at the Guru Raghavendra Bank is to the tune of Rs 1,294 crore, while the Guru Sarvabhauma Society reportedly lost Rs 284 crore due to financial misappropriation, and fraud at the Vasishta Cooperative Bank is said to be tune of Rs 282 crore.
Recently, Bangalore South BJP MP and candidate for Lok Sabha polls, Tejasvi Surya abruptly left an election campaign meeting in his constituency, after depositors at Sri Guru Raghavendra bank allegedly heckled him over the delay in getting back their money. However, Surya's office later blamed those allegedly associated with the Congress party for the incident.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Prime organiser of Messi event in Kolkata arrested over ‘mismanagement’ after stadium chaos
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Saturday arrested Satadru Datta, the prime organiser of the Lionel Messi football event at Salt Lake Stadium here, following widespread chaos at the venue, which prompted the Argentine World Cup-winning captain to leave the field early.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the stadium unrest, Datta was held by the Bidhannagar Police for “mismanagement” of the event from the Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage on their way to Hyderabad.
"We are looking into whether there was any mismanagement from the organiser's side, which led to the chaos at the stadium. He has been detained, and the police have now brought the situation under control," West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said at a press conference.
A senior police officer later confirmed that Dutta has been arrested. Till reports last received, the police were interrogating him and his manager inside one of the departure lounges of the airport.
The organiser has given in writing that he will refund the prices of tickets he sold to the disappointed spectators, Kumar said.
What was supposed to be a marquee football spectacle turned into widespread violence and disorder at the stadium after Messi’s brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, left large sections of the crowd frustrated, as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having travelled from far and wide, paying hefty sums for tickets.
Police said they were also investigating how organisers allowed sale of bottled waters and beverages inside the stadium premises, which are banned items during such events.
Thousands of water bottles were used as missiles and lobbed inside the pitch by angry spectators, who also uprooted bucket seats from the gallery and used them as ammunition inside the field against the defending police and security personnel.
Spectators alleged that water bottles were being sold at a massive premium inside the stadium despite police disallowing such items from outside at the entry gates.
Police agreed there was an underlying tension in the galleries on account of Messi not showing his footballing skills on the field, which only got aggravated after a bunch of VIPs, including State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and unidentified people, blocked the football icon’s view during the limited time he spent on the ground.
“We are on the job, and will ensure that whoever is responsible for what happened today at Salt Lake Stadium will be punished, and action will be taken against the authorities concerned,” said Jawed Shamim, ADG, Law and Order.
