Peelianickal sent to 14-day judicial remand

Alappuzha: Fr. Thomas Peelianickal, executive director, Kuttanad Vikasana Samiti (KVS), who was arrested by the Crime Branch  team in connection with the agri loan fraud, was  remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the Judicial First class Magistrate’s  Court, Ramankari,  on Wednesday.

The CB  team led by district Crime Branch DySP registered his arrest on Wednesday and produced him in the court by 1 p.m. He had been booked under IPC sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

Apart from Fr Peelianickal, the others booked are Rojo Joseph, member, Veliyanad block panchayat, Thresya Alex, office assistant, KVS, Thomas Joseph, president,  Karshakamithram self-help group,  and secretary Devassya  alias Saji.

The court dismissed the  arguments of  Fr Peelianickal’s counsel that  he had only recommended the joint liability groups to the banks and that he had nothing to do with the alleged fraud. His arrest came after the farmers of  Kavalam filed a complaint alleging that the office-bearers of a  non-existent  farmer joint liability group had taken loans from Canara Bank in their names without their knowledge.