Edappadi Palaniswami tells debt victims to report usurers to collector, SP

Chennai: Two days after four members of a family immolated themselves owing to harassment by usurers, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday asked people affected by moneylenders who charge high interest rates to approach district collectors and superintendents of police “without fear” to get their problems resolved.

In a statement, Palaniswami said he has instructed district collectors and superintendents of police to take “necessary action” on complaints received from people regarding charging of high interest rates by moneylenders under Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act, 2003. The CM's statement came hours before the lone survivor of the Tirunelveli incident, Isakimuthu, succumbed to his burn injuries at a government hospital.

EPS highlights Jaya’s 2003 Act helping usury victims 
However, the Chief Minister did not refer to the Monday’s incident in which a couple and their two children immolated themselves in front of the Tirunelveli Collectorate demanding action against usurers who had allegedly harassed them despite their repaying the loan amount.

In the two-page statement, Palaniswami spoke in detail about the 2003 Act enacted by his late mentor and then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and said lenders exploit people who come to them for loans to meet their requirements by charging exorbitant interest.

“The law enacted by Amma provides for stringent action against usurers and also allows the aggrieved party to settle the issue by paying the amount received from  lender before a court”, Palaniswami said, adding that the law also provides for recovery of any movable or immovable properties forcibly taken over by moneylenders.

His appeal to the people came even as the National Human Rights Commission issued notices to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Tirunelveli District Collector and Superintendent of Police seeking their reply on the incident in four weeks.

Police have arrested moneylender Dhalavai Raj, his wife Muthu Lakshmi and his father Kalimuthu, while Sub- Inspector Murugan and Head Constable Kandasamy Kumar, who had allegedly threatened the couple, have been placed under suspension.

TN man who set himself ablaze dies
 A man who set himself and his family members blaze over ‘harassment’ by a moneylender died on Wednesday, even as CM K. Palaniswami directed authorities to act swiftly on usury complaints. The National Human Rights Commission also issued a notice to the state taking cognisance of a complaint that Esakki-muthu and his wife Subbulakshmi took the extreme step after their repeated petitions to the collector.