Bogus passbooks issued to farmers

Crestfallen ryots plead for action against culprits

Karimnagar: Farmers in Nagulapeta village of Korutla mandal in Karimnagar district were taken for a ride by some middlemen who forged signatures of Revenue officials and their rubber stamps to issue bogus passbooks.
They were told that loans could be obtained if they showed the passbooks to bank officials. However, the documents turned out to be fake. Farmers are crestfallen, as bogus passbooks were issued to 15 eligible/genuine farmers, using forged signatures.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Saturday, Bhaskar Reddy said he was shocked when an AP State Cooperative Bank official telephoned to him to say that the SB passbook he had submitted was fake.

Other farmers like Bala Reddy and Jeevan Reddy said they also phone calls to be told that their passbooks were invalid. Although the government ordered an inquiry into the racket, in some cases, loans have been sanctioned on the basis of bogus passbooks. Officials are verifying all passbooks. Farmers are also worried that they might be punished for submitting bogus passbooks.

Investigation into the racket revealed that several Revenue officials in Korutla mandal, who retired recently, were hand-in-glove with some brokers in getting the bogus passbooks issued, using forged signatures and rubber stamps. It came to light that two former VROs were involved. They took bribes ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 from gullible farmers to issue fake passbooks.

When bank officials noticed that the passbooks were bogus, they were handed over to Revenue officials. Farmers who realised that they were cheated, complained to local MRO Madhu and demanded stringent action against brokers.

Jeevan Reddy, a farmer who was given a bogus passbook, said that ryots were facing hardship due to natural calamities, like cyclones.

The bogus passport racket has came as a bolt from the blue, he pointed out.