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Bench confirms conviction of four

MADURAI: The Madras High Court has confirmed conviction and sentence imposed on four persons, including a former bank manager, for misappropriating loan disbursed under Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and utilising the money for constructing a temple.

Dismissing appeals filed by them before the Madurai Bench, Justice A. Selvam directed the Special Court for Central Bureau of Investigation cases here to take steps to incarcerate the convicts who were on bail.

According to the Special Police Establishment of CBI, the State Government, in 1984, permitted fishermen below poverty line to avail bank loans under IRDP to purchase new boats.

Somamuthiah, then branch manager of Indian Bank at Manalmelkudi in Pudukottai district, disbursed loans under the scheme to 20 fishermen at the instance of the panchayat president and two others. However, the CBI investigation revealed that the accused did not disburse the amount to the beneficiaries and misappropriated the money. The counsel for the accused contended that the trial court failed to consider that none of the beneficiaries of the loan supported the prosecution case.

The Judge said the testimonies given by the bank’s cashier, an official of its zonal office and a rural welfare officer were sufficient to prove the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubts.

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