Bihar govt announces probe into sham bank loans

Patna: The Bihar government today announced a probe into reports of agricultural loans raised in the names of farmers, by some banks, without their knowledge.

Finance minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui said that the Commissioner of Magadh will investigate the matter.

Speaking at the state Legislative Assembly he said, based on reports of the probe, necessary action would be initiated with the help of senior officials of the banks concerned.

He also informed that the probe will be completed by a fortnight.

Siddiqui was answering a starred question by JD(U)'s Binod Prasad Yadav regarding surfacing of cases of raising fake bank loans by some corrupt bank officials and some middlemen in Chitawkala village within Sherghatti block of Gaya district.

The questionnaire drew attention of the minister that some hapless farmers were served notice by State Bank of India, Sherghatti branch for recovery of loans which they never applied for.

The state Finance minister said that it is true that in some cases it has been found that middlemen with the help of some corrupt bankers duped illiterate farmers by taking loans in their names.

Some other MLAs also highlighted such cases in other areas where poor farmers were cheated.