Probe officer gets one more month

Kochi: High court on Wednesday granted the investigating officer a final one-month extension to complete the probe into the alleged microfinance fraud case involving SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and others.Setting June 20 as the deadline for completing the probe and filing the chargesheet, the bench of Justice A Badharudeen expressed displeasure over the inordinate delay despite repeated HC directives. The court was considering a petition filed in 2020 by M S Anil of Cherthala, seeking a thorough and effective vigilance investigation in the case by a special team led by an honest and efficient officer. HC further directed the investigating officer to take the directive seriously and comply with it to avoid any adverse orders.The case, originally registered in 2016, pertains to the alleged misappropriation of Rs 15.85 crore in govt loans disbursed in eight instances between 2003 and 2014 under a microfinance scheme intended to benefit members of marginalised communities through the SNDP Yogam. The allegations include collusion between SNDP Yogam officials and former MDs of Kerala State Backwards Classes Development Corporation, and 124 cases have been registered in connection with the matter.The investigation had been entrusted with S Sasidharan, the superintendent of police who is also the probe officer in the Sabarimala gold heist case. Although it was contended that Sasidharan's involvement in the Sabarimala probe had contributed to the delay in the microfinance case, HC had earlier asserted that the investigation in the microfinance case could not be stalled for any reason.During hearing on Wednesday, HC orally expressed concern over the delay in investigation. "Everyone knows the reason for the delay... The name of the respondent itself explains the delay," HC orally observed.