Kendrapara: BJP’s Kendrapara district unit on Sunday demanded a probe by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch into alleged irregularities at the Kendrapara Credit Cooperative Society.
Sukant Diwvedi, the BJP’s district president, said, “Suspicions are being raised on the credit cooperative society president’s utilisation of the collected money and refund of the collected amount to depositors. The EOW should investigate the activities and present the data before public.”
On March 30, the issue of irregularities in the credit cooperative societies was raised following which Cooperation minister Damodar Rout’s replied to allegations of irregularities was made against two cooperative societies in Kendrapara and Cuttack. Subsequently, the government ordered a special audit of the societies, he added.
Saroj Kumar Mohanty, the complainant, said, “Staff of the society have received lakhs of rupees from the organisation. Even President of the society has bought a plot at a cost of Rs 40 lakh recently. There is minimal chance for investors to get back their money as the deposit has been given without any security.”
Notably, during the last fiscal year, the credit cooperative society collected more than Rs 155 crore in deposits whereas more than Rs 144 crore was disbursed as loans.
Pramod Kumar Sahu, president of the credit cooperative society, said, “The Auditor General of Cooperative Societies is undertaking audit of the credit cooperative society every year. Besides, no depositor has complained so far about not getting back the deposit from the society.”
Earlier, Sahu had said no one in the government had the courage to point fingers at the affairs of Kendrapara Credit Cooperative Society.
“Those who don't have not an iota of knowledge are making allegations against the credit cooperative society. They are disappointed people,” he had stated.