Pulppalli bank scam: 95-year-old father of farmer who died by suicide joins indefinite protest

Wayanad: Sreedharan Nair,  the 95-year-old father of Rajendran Nair, who died by suicide in 2023 following a ₹25 lakh loan scam, was brought to the bank premises on Friday to join the indefinite strike against the Pulppalli Service Cooperative Bank.

Lying on the bank’s veranda, the bedridden man joined the agitation organised by the People’s Action Council, demanding the immediate return of Rajendran Nair’s land documents to the family. His wife Jalaja and sons Syamjith and Sreejith are also part of the protest, which has seen around 30 victims and their families participate.

Protestors have demanded that the state government write off the loans in Rajendran Nair’s name and provide a government job to one dependent. Later at night, police shifted Sreedharan Nair to hospital after examining his fragile health condition, with the family’s consent.

The scam came to light after Rajendran Nair, a 60-year-old farmer from Kelakavala, ended his life in protest against bank authorities who failed to act on his complaints. Though he had taken a loan of only ₹80,000, the family received a revenue recovery notice for ₹25 lakh. Investigations later revealed that the remaining funds were siphoned off into the account of Sajeevan Kollappalli, a powerful member of the bank, who was arrested and later released on bail.

With interest, the liability has now crossed ₹50 lakh. Rajendran’s son Sreejith said the family’s land remains pledged to the bank while they survive on a meagre income from selling milk. His mother Jalaja warned that the family may have no option but to end their lives in front of the bank if the government continues to ignore their plight.

The family’s tragedy worsened when Rajendran’s mother died after collapsing on receiving the revenue recovery notice. Despite assurances of a government job and return of land documents, nothing has materialised.

Bank officials said the land deeds cannot be returned as they remain in the custody of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is probing the case.

Congress leader K K Abraham, president of the bank’s administrative committee at the time of the scam, and bank secretary K T Remadevi, were arrested in connection with the fraud. The Enforcement Directorate has also registered cases related to the irregularities.

The indefinite protest at Pulppalli is still underway.