Dalit leaders allege fake signatures of MCC officials used in loan scam

Mangaluru: Dalit leaders filed a complaint with the Mangaluru City police, alleging that fake signatures of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner and health officer, along with fake salary slips, seals, and documents, were used to fraudulently obtain loans from a cooperative bank in the name of civic workers.Dalit leader Anil Kumar raised the issue during a monthly meeting for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, chaired by DCP (law and order) Mithun HN on Saturday.
Anil Kumar said that when some genuine pourakarmikas applied for bank loans, it was discovered that loans were already taken out in the names of many other civic workers. Following this, Dalit leader Vishu Kumar gathered records under the RTI Act, which revealed fraudulent activity. Through fake documents, loans were facilitated in the names of some municipal staff and non-staff individuals, with commissions ranging from about Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 taken as part of the fraud, he said.The cooperative bank manager requested salary verification for the loan applications submitted by the civic workers. However, the documents provided to the bank were fake, and the MCC commissioner clarified that such individuals were not employed as civic workers, he alleged.Vishu Kumar said that in a previous complaint to the police, it was reported that about 30 people took loans from various cooperative bank branches using the signatures of the MCC commissioner and health officer, claiming to be civic workers. "New records have now surfaced, showing that loans were taken in the names of 66 more individuals using similar fake documents. There is suspicion that loans were obtained using fake documents in the names of even more people," he said.A Dalit leader alleged that the principal of a private ITI in Konaje took a loan from a bank using a lecturer's salary certificate, causing harassment. DCP Mithun instructed a proper investigation.Ambedkar Circle issue: DSS warns protestDSS activist Anil Kumar said that despite the foundation stone being laid, the demand for a circle with Ambedkar' statue at the Ambedkar Circle in the city was not fulfilled.Another activist, SP Anand, said that despite funds being allocated, the work did not commence, citing traffic issues. "If a circle can be constructed at Pumpwell, why not at Ambedkar Circle? If the demand is not met by April 14, the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, a protest will be inevitable," said Anand.