Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 22 July 2025
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee, has submitted a resolution to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands regarding alleged large-scale corruption and irregularities in the A&N State Cooperative Bank Ltd.
In a letter dated July 21, 2025, CPI(M) Secretary D. Ayyappan forwarded the resolution adopted during the State Secretariat meeting held on July 19, 2025, in Port Blair under the chairmanship of Dr. Gouranga Majhi. The resolution expresses concern that the investigation into the loan scam case in the Cooperative Bank is not being conducted properly. It also notes the appearance of allegations involving senior police officers and influential individuals allegedly attempting to hinder the investigation. The party pointed out that neither the investigating team nor the Administration has denied these allegations.
The resolution further states that although the former Chairman of the Bank—who was also the former Congress President in the islands and an ex-MP—was arrested and sent to judicial custody, several Congress leaders involved in the management of the Bank or who availed large loans without adequate property valuation are not being properly investigated. The resolution claims that the Andaman & Nicobar Police are not equipped to handle money laundering cases and alleges that the BJP and the Central Government have been overtly or covertly supporting the former Chairman for unknown reasons.
CPI(M) reiterated its demand for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department into the scam, which it says involves hundreds of crores of rupees in bank and public funds. The party called for measures to protect the bank from any negative consequences of the ongoing investigation and to safeguard the interests of depositors. It also emphasized the need to ensure job security for both regular and casual employees of the Bank in order to instill confidence among the public.
Along with the latest resolution, the party has also submitted earlier communications dated March 3 and May 26, 2025, which include related resolutions and letters.
Copies of the resolution and the covering letter have been sent to the Hon’ble Minister for Home and Cooperation, Government of India; the Director, CBI; the Director of Enforcement; the Chief Vigilance Officer, A&N Administration; the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, A&N Islands; and Comrade A.A. Rahim, MP (Rajya Sabha), New Delhi, for necessary action. (Story Based on PR)
