Team formed to nab banker who demanded sexual favours from

Taking serious note of an incident of a banker allegedly asking sexual favours from a woman to clear a crop loan, the Buldhana district authorities have formed a team to nab the accused, state government officials said today.

Rajesh Hivase, bank manager with the Central Bank of India in Buldhana, along with a peon, Manoj Chavan, was booked on Thursday after a woman, who had applied for a crop loan with the bank at Datala village in Malakapur tehsil, filed a complaint.

The incident happened on June 18 and the complaint was filed on Thursday, officials said.

A statement issued by the government said that Buldhana Collector Nirupama Dange would personally monitor the case.

"As soon as the incident came to light, the District Collector spoke to the Superintendent of Police and sought immediate arrest of the accused," the statement said.

Peon Manoj Chavan (37) was arrested today from Daryapur village where he had gone to attend a marriage, Girish Bobade, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Buldhana said.

Bobade added that Chavan had been brought to Malkapur police station for further investigation.

He added that a search was still continuing for Hivase and police teams had been sent to the accused's Wardha and Nagpur residences.

The state government statement added that the district administration was preparing a report against the branch manager and a proposal to suspend him was being sent to the bank's management.

The statement further said such incidents will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against the accused.

Earlier, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan condemned the incident and called it a "shame" and a "blot" on a progressive state like Maharashtra.

Speaking on the issue, Chavan today said, "Farmers are not getting loan waiver or crop insurance and cannot even avail crop loans. The incident of a branch manager seeking sexual favours from a farmer's wife in lieu of processing a loan is shocking and condemnable."