Maha govt to crack down on corruption in coop credit societies

Maharashtra Government will launch a drive against corruption in cooperative credit societies, beginning today, with office-bearers and staff in societies which duped depositors and borrowers facing criminal charges.

Criminal cases have already been registered against 144 such societies and 2,112 persons, of which 634 have been arrested, Cooperatives Minister Harshwardhan Patil said.

A survey conducted by the department found that there was corruption to the tune of Rs 373 crore in these societies, the minister said.

There are altogether 1.14 crore members of the 17,278 such societies in the state till March 2009, Patil said, adding, the deposits are of Rs 13,812 crore.

"In the last two years, we haven't allowed any new society to be formed," he added.

The government has proposed setting up an authority to deal sternly with frauds in these societies, the minister said.

A bill on the issue is likely in the winter session of state legislature beginning at Nagpur on December 1.

Social activist Anna Hazare, who is in the forefront of an agitation against corruption in these societies, actively participated in meetings held to discuss measures against fraud in these bodies, Patil said.