Cooperation Dept. orders probe into affairs of three cooperative societies in Tirthahalli

Key points

• The Department of Cooperation has ordered inquiries into three cooperative societies based in Tirthahalli under Section 64 of the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959, following allegations of financial irregularities.
• The allegations include accepting blank cheques from loan applicants and compelling them to sign blank stamp papers — documents that were allegedly misused at a later stage.
• The three societies under scrutiny are the Sharavathi Credit Cooperative Society, the Samruddhi Horticulture Produce and Sale Cooperative Society, and the Sahyadri Multi-Purpose Arecanut Growers Marketing Cooperative Society.
• The enquiries have been ordered following directions from the Chief Minister's office.
• In an order dated May 6, the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Urban Banks) appointed the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Chitradurga, to probe allegations of irregularities in loan recovery by the Sharavathi Credit Cooperative Society.