The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two separate cases against the two accused and unknown others on the allegations of causing huge loss to Lakshadweep Khadi & Village Industries Board (LKVIB), Union Territory of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti.

The accused in first case including Kamarbhanu T., secretary of M/s AHAL Development Society, Kiltan Island, Lakshadweep and Unknown public servants & unknown private persons.
The accused in second case including T.K. Ahmed Haji, MD of M/s Rahat Development Society, Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep and Unknown public servants & unknown private persons.

Earlier, a Joint Surprise Check was conducted by CBI and Vigilance officials of UT of Lakshadweep on 25.06.2022 in the office of Lakshadweep Khadi and Village Industries Board (LKVIB) at Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep.

It was alleged that some influential and other persons in connivance with unknown public servants of Lakshdeep Khadi and Village Industries Board (LKVIB) fraudulently availed loan under Consortium Bank Credit Scheme (CBC) for purchasing fishing vessels & other accessories and did not repay the same, thereby causing huge loss to the Govt. exchequer.

It was further alleged that the non-remittance of loan by the influential beneficiaries resulted into a situation, where Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Mumbai stopped releasing the funds to LKVIB and thus the development work to be carried out by the Board came to stand still. Further loans to fresh applicants could not be disbursed and it also curtailed the benefits of other islanders.

First case was registered against a Secretary of a private Development Society based at Kiltan Island, Lakshadweep; unknown public servants & unknown private persons for causing an alleged loss of Rs. 53,46,835 (approx) and second case was registered against MD of a private Development Society based at Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep; unknown public servants & unknown private persons for causing an alleged loss of Rs. 46,75,206 (approx) to Lakshadweep Khadi and Village Industries Board (LKVIB).

Searches are being conducted today at the residential premises of accused including at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep and Calicut (Kerala) which led to recovery of incriminating documents, the official note of CBI said on Tuesday.

Investigation is continuing.