KERALA (INDIA)
The News Minute
June 20, 2018
Peelianickal is accused in six cases of loan fraud out of which Kerala HC had earlier granted him anticipatory bail in two cases.
Father Thomas Peelianickal who is the executive director of the Kuttanad Vikasana Samithi (KVS) office in Alappuzha, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an agriculture loan scam in Kuttanad.
The District crime branch team led by Dy SP Vijayakumaran Nair arrested him.
Police said that as per complaints received by them, Peelianickal had availed loans on behalf of farmers’ self-help groups by allegedly forging documents of several farmers.
He is accused in six cases of loan fraud out of which Kerala High Court had earlier granted him anticipatory bail in two cases.
Peelianickal’s arrest was recorded at the CB office in Alappuzha on Tuesday evening and he will be produced before Ramankari Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
Nair told The Times of India that 14 cases have been registered related to agriculture loan fraud. “As per the evidence we collected, Peelianickal is now accused in only six cases. The investigation is progressing and Peelianickal may become accused in more cases in coming days,” the investigation team said.
Veliyanad Block panchayat member and NCP leader Rojo Joseph is the main accused in the case but he is absconding.
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