Mangaluru Dalit Leaders Uncover Extensive Loan Fraud Scheme
In a significant development in Mangaluru, Dalit community leaders have formally lodged a complaint with the Mangaluru City Police, bringing to light a sophisticated and extensive loan fraud operation. The complaint alleges that fraudulent actors utilized counterfeit signatures of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner and the health officer, alongside fabricated salary slips, official seals, and other critical documents. These forged materials were allegedly employed to illicitly secure loans from a cooperative bank, falsely using the identities of civic workers, known locally as pourakarmikas.
Discovery During Scheduled Caste Meeting
The issue was first raised publicly by Dalit leader Anil Kumar during a monthly meeting specifically convened for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mithun HN on Saturday. Anil Kumar detailed that the fraud came to light when several genuine pourakarmikas applied for bank loans themselves. To their shock, they discovered that loans had already been fraudulently obtained in the names of numerous other civic workers without their knowledge or consent.
RTI Investigation Reveals Fraudulent Network
Following this initial discovery, another Dalit leader, Vishu Kumar, took proactive steps by gathering official records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The documents obtained through this legal channel confirmed the widespread fraudulent activity. According to Vishu Kumar, the scheme involved creating fake documents to facilitate loans not only in the names of actual municipal staff but also for individuals who were not employed by the MCC at all. As part of this illicit process, commissions ranging from approximately Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 were allegedly extracted from the loan amounts, indicating a profit-driven criminal network.
Bank Verification Process Exploited
The complaint further elaborates on the method of the fraud. The manager of the cooperative bank had rightfully requested salary verification for the loan applications submitted by individuals claiming to be civic workers. However, the documents provided to the bank in response were entirely fabricated. The MCC commissioner has reportedly clarified to investigators that the individuals named in these loan applications were not employed as civic workers with the corporation, directly contradicting the information on the submitted forms.
Scale of the Fraud Expands
Vishu Kumar provided alarming details about the scale of the operation. He stated that in a previous complaint filed with the police, it was reported that roughly 30 individuals had taken loans from various branches of the cooperative bank using the forged signatures of the MCC commissioner and health officer. "New records have now surfaced, showing that loans were taken in the names of 66 more individuals using similar fake documents. There is a strong suspicion that loans were obtained using fake documents in the names of even more people," he emphasized, suggesting the fraud network is far more extensive than initially thought.
Separate Allegation of Fraud in Education Sector
In a related but separate allegation presented during the same meeting, a Dalit leader claimed that the principal of a private Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Konaje had taken a loan from a bank using a forged salary certificate belonging to a lecturer, leading to harassment. In response to all these serious allegations, DCP Mithun has instructed the police to conduct a thorough and proper investigation into the matters.
Ambedkar Circle Protest Warning Issued
During the meeting, activists also raised concerns about a longstanding civic issue. DSS activist Anil Kumar highlighted that despite a foundation stone being laid, the demand for constructing a traffic circle with a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the designated Ambedkar Circle in the city remains unfulfilled. Another activist, SP Anand, pointed out that although funds were allocated for the project, work has not commenced, with authorities citing traffic management issues.
"If a circle can be constructed at Pumpwell, why not at Ambedkar Circle? If the demand is not met by April 14, the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, a protest will be inevitable," Anand warned, setting a clear deadline for the authorities.
