Several cases of loan fraud in Andhra Bank, Keonjhar branch, have come to the fore during the tenure of Kishore Chandra Naik and Upendra Nath Jena as Branch Manager from 2015 to 2017. It is also alleged that about Rs 2 crore was misappropriated and hundreds of farmers have made victims of the loan fraud.
The loans were cunningly withdrawn without the knowledge of the farmers. Now the farmers are surprised to receive legal notices to repay the loans that never reached them.
According to sources, Sarat Chandra Naik, a farmer of Khuntapada, Harichandanpur block, wanted to buy a tractor on loan. On instruction of the Branch Manager, Sarat also deposited Rs 1,86,000 as margin money and he was promised that his new Eicher tractor would be delivered through dealer Maa Tarini Enterprises, Keonjhar.
To buy a tractor trolley too, he was asked to deposit another margin money of Rs 1,40,000 separately for trolley loan. “I have been repeatedly running to the bank and the dealer but no tractor has been delivered to me even after 5 years. The entire loan amount including margin money has been mis appropriated in connivance with the Branch Manager Kishore Naik and tractor dealer Satyanarayan Pradhan," alleged Sarat, adding, "Now I am served a legal notice to repay loan of Rs 7,55,563 which is beyond my capacity. "
Similarly, Arun Kumar Naik of Turumunga, Saroj Kumar Naik of Dumuriguda, Nirakar Mahanta of Chemena, Rajsekhar Behera of Kainda, Kushadhar Mahanta and Yudhistira Mahanta of Dasarathipur have complained to the Chief Grievance Redressal Officer, Andhra Bank, Hyderabad alleging that they were victims of cheating.
According to their complaints, they were sanctioned to buy power tiller on loan for which they had deposited a margin money of Rs 35,000 each. But the power tillers were never delivered to them. After a few months, the manager informed them that their loan was waived off for which they were made to sign some documents. “Later on we discovered that fresh crop loan was sanctioned in our name and the amount was adjusted against the power tiller loan," they said.
"The power tiller loan money has been misappropriated and we are burdened with another agriculture loan”, Nirakar Mahanta alleged. Aswini Kumar Sahu of Kiapada and Mitrabhanu Mahanta are also victim of similar cheating concerning power tiller loan. Both have now outstanding loans of Rs 2,57,000 and 1,67,000 respectively.
“We have complained to the bank authorities and administration but nobody listens to our plight. From where shall we repay the loan?” they asked.
In meantime, Satyanarayan Pradhan, the tractor dealer and proprietor Maa Tarini Enterprises through whom about more than Rs 2 crore was encashed and misappropriated died of heart attack. A cash credit loan of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 14 lakh housing loan was sanctioned in his name without any house construction.
The victimized farmers also alleged that the Branch Manager had engaged brokers like Santosh Mahanta and Ashis Singh to bring needy farmers from Telkoi, Harichandanpur, Banspal, Patna, Jhumpura Sadar block who were made scapegoats.
"These loans were not sanctioned during my period and we will provide any information if sought by our higher authorities,” said BM Sunaram Naik, when asked.
Earlier another bank customer Monika Singh had complained about misappropriation of more than Rs 10 lakh from her housing loan account through unsigned withdrawal slips.
"Why the bank head office has remained silent and not taken action against the erring officials is a matter of suspicion for which hundreds of victims will stage a demonstration infront of the bank soon, to fight for justice,” Progressive Citizens Forum president Dhirendra Rout said.