Blind Elderly Man Alleges 10 Lakh Fraud by Congress-Run Cooperative Bank

Thrissur: A 67-year-old blind man has filed a complaint against the Congress-run Vennur Service Cooperative Bank, alleging that loans totaling 10 lakh rupees were fraudulently taken using his land pledge without his knowledge.

Kootalparambil Kumaran, a resident of Annamnad Panchayat, told police that in 2009, he had pledged land and taken a loan of 2.5 lakh rupees in the name of his wife Bhavani on behalf of his brother. Bank officials confirmed that this loan had been repaid by his brother. Based on this, in 2015, the bank allegedly accepted the same land pledge and provided another loan of 2 lakh rupees to Kumaran for his daughter’s marriage. According to him, after repaying this loan in 2017, the bank did not return the land documents.

After repeatedly enquiring with the bank, Kumaran was reportedly informed that loans totaling 10 lakh rupees had been taken using the same land pledge. However, he maintains that he had no knowledge of these transactions and suspects collusion between the bank officials and his brother.

Kumaran, who lost his eyesight completely at the age of 24, has supported his family through small jobs. He and his family have demanded an immediate investigation and the return of the land documents. Mala Police have launched an inquiry into the matter.