A shocking financial scam has come to light in Naugachia, a district of Bhagalpur, Bihar. A recovery agent associated with an NGO called 'Samaj Unnati Kendra' collected approximately ₹1.40 crore from village women under the guise of loan installments, but then absconded without depositing the money in the bank. The women realized the fraud when they received notices from Canara Bank for non-payment of loans.
Women Reach Bank, Revealing the Truth
After receiving the notices, more than three dozen women from the village went together to the Canara Bank branch in Naugachia market and demanded an explanation from the branch manager. The women alleged that they had been faithfully paying their loan installments to the agent every month, but now the bank was claiming that the money had not been deposited. Angered by the fraud, the women accused the bank manager of collusion and said that the agent had disappeared with ₹1.40 crore with the bank's knowledge.
The women created a ruckus in the bank and are now preparing to file an FIR. There is considerable outrage in the area over this incident, and the rural women feel cheated.
How the Financial Fraud Occurred
Imran Siddiqui, the branch manager of Canara Bank Naugachia, said that the bank had given loans to about 95 women through the NGO 'Samaj Unnati Kendra'. There were 5 to 6 women in each group, who were given loans ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh. The agents, Amaresh and Sanjit, were responsible for collecting the installments every month and depositing them in the bank.
Initially, everything went smoothly, but in the last year, these agents failed to deposit four to five installments of many women. As a result, the loan accounts started turning into NPAs (Non-Performing Assets). According to the branch manager, this scam has also affected the women's civil scores (credit history), which could affect their future.
Preparation for Legal Action
After the exposure of the scam, the affected women are now demanding legal action. The bank has also started an internal investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the police have been informed about the agents' arrest. Local people and the affected women want the culprits to be caught soon and their hard-earned money to be returned to them.
This case is not only one of financial negligence but also a serious incident that has broken the trust of women, raising questions about the rural banking system in Bihar.
