Congress demands CBI probe of IPM bank scam in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Main opposition Congress today staged a walkout from the Chhattisgarh Assembly demanding a CBI probe of the 2006 scam at Indira Priyadarshini Mahila ( IPM) Nagrik Sahkari Bank here.

Raising the issue in the question hour, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel asked whether the state government had recovered loans of Rs 1 crore or more sanctioned by the bank.

He also sought details of defaulters and legal action taken to recover the money.

Cooperative Minister Dayaldas Baghel said loans of over Rs 1 crore were sanctioned to seven bogus firms by the bank, and since the firms were bogus and no information about them was available, no money was recovered.

Bank management was responsible for giving loans to bogus firms, and the money would be recovered from Board of Directors, he added.

Baghel claimed that there was financial irregularity to the tune of several crores in Indira Priyadarshini Bank. Poor and middle class people had deposited their money in this bank and they were waiting to get it back, he said, asking when the government would refund the money.

The minister said the proposal to recover the money from the Board of Directors was pending before the court.

The Congress leader claimed that narco test of all the accused in this case had been carried out, which revealed the names of leaders of the ruling party as beneficiaries of the scam. Whether the CD in this regard would be submitted in the court, he asked.

The Congress leader also asked if the case would be handed over to CBI.

To this, the minister reiterated that loans were given to bogus firms and for this board of directors was responsible. Dissatisfied with the reply, Congress members staged a walkout shouting slogans and demanding CBI probe.