The Congress party has accused BJP MP Tejaswi Surya and his uncle, Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramaniam, of involvement in the 'Guru Raghavendra Bank Scam'. In protest, the party has launched a campaign called 'Don't Bank on Surya' and distributed ATM card models featuring the accused's photo to voters in South Bangalore. Despite the scam coming to light in 2020, over 15,000 depositors remain uncompensated. In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, eight seats will cast their ballots on April 19, with a total of 80 candidates in the fray.
BJP MP Tejaswi Surya Implicated in 'Guru Raghavendra Bank Scam'
Background:
The Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank (GRSB) is a cooperative bank based in Karnataka, India. In 2020, a massive scam was uncovered, involving the illegal diversion of funds and misappropriation of depositors' money.
Involvement of Tejaswi Surya:
The Congress party has accused BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Tejaswi Surya and his uncle, Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramaniam, of involvement in the scam. According to allegations, Subramaniam, who was a former director of GRSB, facilitated illegal loans to certain individuals using forged documents. Surya is alleged to have been a beneficiary of these loans.
The Congress has launched a campaign called 'Don't Bank on Surya' to protest the alleged involvement of the BJP leaders. The party has distributed ATM card models featuring Surya's photo to voters in South Bangalore, the constituency he represents.
Scam Details:
The GRSB scam involved the diversion of over Rs 1,000 crore from the bank's coffers. The illegal loans were granted to individuals who were not eligible for them, and the funds were allegedly used for personal gain.
Despite the scam coming to light in 2020, over 15,000 depositors remain uncompensated. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken over the administration of the bank and is working on a revival plan.
Allegations Against Surya:
The Congress has alleged that Surya received loans from GRSB despite not being eligible. They claim that the loans were sanctioned without proper documentation and that the funds were diverted to Surya's personal accounts.
Surya has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the Congress of playing politics. He has stated that he has never borrowed money from GRSB or any other bank.
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