In yet another spin to the alleged 'call money racket' here, Vijayawada Police Commissioner Goutam Sawang, who spearheaded the investigations in the case, today cancelled his ten-day trip to the US, amid strong speculations that he was under immense political pressure to go on leave.
"I requested the Director General of Police to allow me to cancel my ten-day leave to follow the investigations in the call money racket case. I feel that it is better not to leave the place at this crucial time," he told reporters here.
For every Christmas, I used to stay with my family in the US. I had applied for leave one month back which has already been sanctioned, he said.
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On investigations into the racket, Sawang said so far police has conducted raids at 107 places and picked up 75 persons in connection with the case besides seizing a lot of promissory notes and blank cheques from them.
Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh DGP J V Ramudu had said that Sawang's leave has nothing to do with ongoing investigations in the case.
"This (the leave) is nothing extraordinary. He applied a month ago for leave and is proceeding accordingly. His leave has no link with the ongoing investigation of 'call money'. Some other officer as good as Sawang will take over his charge," Ramudu had said.
The local police had recently arrested nine persons for their alleged involvement in the racket amid reports that some of the lenders tried to sexually exploit the women borrowers when they defaulted on repayment.
Some operators, allegedly involved in the racket, wherein private lenders fraudulently usurped properties of borrowers, have links "cutting across political parties".
According to investigators, private lenders lent on exorbitant interest rates, in some cases as high as 10-15 per cent per month, and allegedly used strong arm tactics to seize mortgaged assets of borrowers who defaulted.
Chief Minister Chadrababu Naidu has already said the government would act tough with the racketeers and directed the district collectors to "invoke" the stringent 'Nirbhaya Act' against the anti-social elements who indulge in violence against women.
Meanwhile, Muppalla Subba Rao, advocate and member Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh, today demanded that the state government should pass a compulsory law on registration of pro-notes in the state to curtail the call-money problem.
Call money is an instant loan available on extremely high interest rates over a call through flexible process where the lender comes home with money, promissory note and other documents. Another key factor in the process is that the lender can demand return of money over a call anytime and anywhere.
