Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 3: Andalu Ramesh Babu, national president for Agrigold Customers and Agent Welfare Association demanded the Karnataka government to release Rs 2,000 crore as relief amount for the victims of Agrigold scam. He also demanded the state government to occupy properties of Agrigold Company.

Speaking at Udupi press club here Tuesday, October 2 he said, “There are 8.5 lac customers who have invested Rs 2,000 crores in Karnataka. So far 70 customers have committed suicide due to stress. Karnataka government has issued a gazette notification. All cheque bounce cases (Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Udupi, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Kasargod and other cities) are at Udupi court. But the hearing date is being postponed from couple of months. This is a question of many lives. The government must consider this issue seriously. The case has seen no progress in court. We have filed appeals in July and attached the details of 27 directors. Agrigold investors earned crores of rupees and now they are doing several business. Sumana Hegde, Prakash Devadiga and others are running chit funds business. They have misused innocents’ money.

“The state government and concerned department must interrogate them and get back the money. The Orissa government released around Rs 300 crore for victims. Around Rs 5 lac of compensation amount was released by Andra Pradesh government for victims. Karnataka government needs to pay at least Rs 5 lacs for the victims. It should
acquire properties of Agrigold for the recovery. The government has appointed an in-charge assistant commissioner Rajendra Prasad for investigation. A GSL company came forward to purchase the company.

“The company extended its business in eight states with total 177 branches and collected Rs 7,000 crore from 35 lac customers.

“Karnataka government and CID has captured the main server. About 40 per cent of the accounts were deleted. We will call a meeting of customers and agents of Agrigold at Narayana Guru hall, Bannanje soon,” he said.

Andalu Ramesh urged the state government to arrest Agrigold directors of Karnataka and also said that government’s interference is necessary.

K Narayana Shetty, district president, BMS Mangaluru, Sriranga Achar, honorary president Tumkur, V Rajan, general secretary, and Chandrashekar Sanil, vice president were present.