The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to MM Varghese, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM’s Thrissur district secretary, in connection with the alleged Rs 343 crore fraud involving the Karuvannur cooperative. The notice, which was served as part of the ongoing investigation into the financial irregularities, has added a new twist to the unfolding saga.
Varghese has been summoned by the ED for interrogation on Wednesday, April 3, regarding his alleged involvement in the cooperative fraud. However, he has stated that he is yet to receive the notice and intends to discuss the matter with his party before deciding on his appearance before the investigative agency.
The issuance of the ED notice comes on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to Prof. T.N. Sarasu, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the Alathoor parliamentary constituency. During a conversation with Dr. Sarasu on March 26, the PM reportedly pledged strict actions against those implicated in money laundering cases, particularly referencing instances similar to the Karuvannur cooperative bank malpractices.
According to reports, the ED has informed various authorities, including the Union Finance Ministry, Reserve Bank of India, and the Central Election Commission, about its findings. It has been revealed that the ED has identified five secret accounts linked to the CPM in the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank. These accounts allegedly violate cooperative rules and bylaws, which mandate membership in the respective cooperative society prior to opening an account.
The ED has further asserted that senior CPM leaders were involved in the opening of these accounts, although no traces of these transactions are found in the audit records.
The Karuvannur Bank fraud, amounting to Rs 343 crore, has left hundreds of depositors in despair for the past few years. Many have faced severe hardships, with students forced to halt their academic pursuits, parents unable to fulfill matrimonial commitments, and individuals even succumbing to medical conditions due to the loss of their deposits in the CPM-controlled bank.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to address the plight of the affected depositors has ignited hopes of redressal. If translated into action, it could bring immense relief to the distressed depositors, offering a glimmer of hope amid their struggles.
The Karuvannur Bank scandal serves as a stark reminder of the unchecked malpractices and nepotism prevalent under the absolute majority enjoyed by CPM leaders in the legislative assembly, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and reform within the banking sector.
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