Kasaragod: "Etty (sister) is not well. I went to the bank to get some money for her treatment. When I asked for Rs 1 lakh, they offered Rs 1,000 and said the rest will be given later. When I mentioned it was for treatment, they gave Rs 5,000." These are the words of Lakshmi, a native of Mundol, who deposited Rs 5 lakh in the Karadka Agriculturist Cooperative Society. 

The secretary of Karadukka Agriculturist Welfare Cooperative Society, operating in Mulleria under the jurisdiction of the CPM party, is alleged to have committed fraud amounting to crores. The accused, K Ratheesan (38), who is also a member of the Mulleria CPM local committee, is at large. An inquiry has been recommended following irregularities amounting to Rs 4.76 crore was found during an inspection conducted by the Cooperative Department.

Lakshmi invested the money which she had got as compensation offered to Endosulfan victims. She had withdrawn Rs 2 lakh earlier in connection with a borewell digging. Unaware of the fraud at the Karadukka Cooperative Society, Lakshmi went there on the other day to withdraw some money for her sister-in-law’s (Brother’s wife) treatment.

An employee at the bank told Lakshmi that there were not enough funds and that the money would be paid within two weeks. Except for saying that there were some issues, Lakshmi was not informed about the fraud. 

Lakshmi’s sister-in-law Narayani, a cancer patient, has been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kasaragod for the past two days. The family is worried about the treatment expenses. Her sole relief is the government pension that she receives.

It is common people and farmers who have fallen prey to the fraud at Karadka Cooperative Society. They are shocked to hear of the ever-smiling secretary who is absconding after swindling off their hard-earned money. The governing body has assured them that they will not lose any money. However, the credibility of this assurance is being questioned as the bank fails to offer even Rs 1 lakh to its depositors.