The couple had a plan to settle down back home after retirement; their children have settled in Ireland. Tara, a nurse in Drogheda, had invested her savings in the CPM-controlled Karuvannur Cooperative Bank. Anil Akkara, Congress leader and former MLA said that the death was the consequence of Karuvannur Cooperative Bank fraud.
It is alleged that about Rs 300 crore has been embezzled through illegal loans and investment fraud. And it had been reportedly executed by the manager, accountant and other employees with the knowledge of the governing body controlled by CPM. The bank’s president and other members of the governing body, as well as six employees, including the manager, were arrested in this connection. A prominent CPM worker is in jail in this connection. There is news in the media that some senior leaders are on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate.
Akkara’s FB post says that late Chittilappalli had invested a significant part of his hard-earned savings in the Karuvannur Bank; but, now his family struggles hard to bring his body back home. Akkara leaves no stone unturned for the body’s flight home. He has requested the government to provide urgent assistance in this regard.
Stroke was the reason for the Chittilappalli’s death. The couple have been living in a rented house there in Ireland. Upon hearing from Kerala regarding the bank fraud, the couple are reported to have contacted the bank and demanded their money back. But, the response gave them a rude shock, that is, funds not available. Tara Vincent confirmed Akkare’s accusation. She confirmed that the entire family was in total distress and financial crises. Their daughters Tushara Vincent and Amulya Vincent lead married life in Ireland; son Abhay Vincent studies in UK.
Vincent Chittilappalli was a member of Drogheda Malayali Society since its. He was liked by the entire society. The funeral is likely to take place in his native place later. Keralites in Ireland are organising fundraising to take Vincent’s body back home. Akkara’s FB post has drawn the attention of the Malayali community in Ireland. The post seeks the necessary assistance to Tara Vincent to take her husband’s body to his home village. The post says that Vincent is a victim of the Karuvannur fraud. Their entire earnings were in the Karuvannur Bank. At the moment they need government’s help to bring his body back home. Vincent was in total mental anguish due to the dark reality that his dream to settle down back home and lead a peaceful retired life there was not going to materialise, thanks to the loss of money invested in the Karuvannur Bank.
Vincent is not the first victim of Karuvannur Bank fraud to die. Deaths occurred last year also. They were victims who could not get their money back from the bank for the medical treatment. One was a lady. Her husband had deposited Rs 30 lakhs ! Another one was a disabled man who again failed to get money from the bank for hospital treatment. Several people are terrified by the recovery notice for the fraudulent loans.
Still CPM and the Government of Kerala do not give any word of guarantee to return the money of thousands of people who had deposited in the infamous bank.
