Amravati cops net female moneylender

AMRAVATI: As the clamour grows to free farmers from the clutches of private moneylenders, the Amravati police on Friday arrested a woman moneylender, claiming it to be the first instance of a woman running an illegal moneylending business.
The accused identified as Sarla Ahuja (40) of Rampuri camp was arrested by Gadge Nagar police for allegedly giving loans worth lakhs to many people.The police confiscated cheques collectively worth about Rs 1 lakh, some ornaments apart from few stamp papers and papers with revenue stamps.
The interrogation of the accused - conducted jointly by the deputy registrar (cooperative) and Gadge Nagar police - was on till the time of going to the press.
Sources alleged that she took possession of the plots of people who failed to repay loan amounts as small as Rs 5,000.
The police said that she was into illegal money-lending business since past last ten years and frequently changed her area of operation. Before coming to Rampuri camp she lived in Kanwar Nagar.
Her present house too was one taken over from the owner - Ramchand Nihalchand Nagdeo - as he failed to repay a loan taken from her towards treatment of his ailing mother. However, Sarla allowed Ramchand and his family to live in a room.
Ahuja used to charge 20 per cent rate of interest for amount she lent.