Kisan credit card holder farmers are allegedly being made to grease the palms of bank officers to get smaller loans for their needs.
In one such case, CBI today arrested an officer of Bank of India posted in Madhya Pradesh for taking illegal gratification of Rs 3,000 from a farmer.
The card has been promoted by the Government as a way to provide affordable credit to farmers in India.
Started by Government of India, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) in 1998-99, it was aimed to help farmers access timely and adequate credit.
"A case was registered by CBI on the basis of a complaint under section seven of PC Act, 1988 against one Agricultural Officer, Bank of India, Seoni Branch, District Seoni (Madhya Pradesh)," CBI spokesperson said.
The agency said Bank officer was arrested on receiving a complaint from a farmer who had alleged that the accused public servant has demanded a bribe of Rs 13,000 for getting sanctioned and disbursed the amounts of Kisan Credit Card Loans to him and his wife.
"It was also alleged in the complaint that Rs 10,000 was illegally debited from the bank account of the complainant towards illegal gratification by the accused public servant.
During verification, the accused demanded the remaining bribe of Rs 3,000 from the complainant for getting sanctioned and disbursed Kisan Credit Card Loan to the wife of the complainant, CBI said in the statement.
The agency said a trap was laid and the accused was caught red-handed today while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 3,000 from the complainant at the Branch.
