In a significant development, K K Abraham, the general secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), resigned from his position in the party following his arrest in connection with an alleged loan fraud case at the Pulpally Cooperative Bank. Abraham, who previously served as the president of the bank, was taken into custody and subsequently remanded for 14 days.
Abraham submitted his letter of resignation to KPCC President K Sudhakaran while in custody, as sources indicate that the party was planning to initiate disciplinary action against him. The resignation comes as the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau prepares to file a charge-sheet in court regarding the alleged loan fraud at the Pulpally Cooperative Bank.
The investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau began in 2019, following complaints of embezzlement and loan fraud through benami transactions at the bank. The charge-sheet, which includes 10 individuals, names the bank’s president, members of the administration, and employees allegedly involved in the fraudulent activities.
Earlier this week, Kerala police arrested K K Abraham and bank secretary K T Ramadevi in connection with the suicide of Rajendran Nair, who had filed a complaint regarding the loan fraud at the Pulpally bank. One of the accused in the case, Sajeevan Kollappally, remains absconding.
The proceedings in the case are being expedited due to allegations of attempts to delay the charge-sheet and protect the accused. The suicide of the complainant farmer has further highlighted the urgency of the investigation. The Human Rights Commission has also taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and registered a case.
The deceased, Rajendran Nair, was discovered dead in his field, allegedly after consuming poison. Bank records indicate that Nair had taken a loan of Rs 25 lakh by pledging his land, although he claimed to have borrowed only Rs 80,000. Former vice president of the bank’s governing body, T S Kurian, alleged that the loan was taken in Rajendran’s name using a forged signature, with the former bank president and his assistant being responsible for the fraud. Kurian further alleged that the duo had stolen crores of rupees through similar means.
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