Kozhikode: Bank sends goons for recovery, lands in spot

KOZHIKODE: It appears that following in the footsteps of new-gen banks, nationalised banks have also started initiating recovery procedures using goons.

In a shocking incident that took place on January 20, goons were sent by the State Bank of India (SBI) main branch, Kozhikode, to confiscate a car bought by a man in Vadakara. 

The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kozhikode, on Monday directed the town police to register a case against the chief manager of SBI main branch and two other agency men, who went for vehicle recovery. The magistrate has ordered a probe also.

These two men had gone along with advocate commission P Sheni on January 20 to Vadakara to confiscate the car bought by Rajesh Kallatt, hailing from Perode, Nadapuram.

Rajesh had availed of a loan from SBI Vadakara branch on August 27, 2013 and Rs 5, 03, 848 was due. The two agency men had accompanied the advocate commission posing as a bank officer, and had tried to damage the vehicle and take possession of it, advocate commission P Sheni said in the report.

The CJM directed the police to probe the issue on the basis of this report.
When Sheni and the two men visited the spot, Rajesh was out of station and when contacted, he assured them that he would reach there in an hour.

However, the commission stated that the agency men did not wait for that and tried to break open the vehicle. She added that it was only then that she realised the men who accompanied her were not bank officers but ‘recovery agents’.

The commission said that Rajesh informed her that he would pay Rs 90,000 on January 19 and he assured in writing that he was ready to pay the rest of the money. Since she got an assurance in writing, she did not proceed with the recovery process.