SNDP Yogam microfinance scam: Kerala HC records ‘extreme displeasure’ at delay by Home dept. in complying with orders

The Kerala High Court has expressed “extreme displeasure” at the Home department’s delay in forwarding the file pertaining to sanction of prosecution in the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam microfinance scam to the Additional Chief Secretary, Backward Classes Welfare department (BCWD). On Friday, Justice A. Badharudeen criticised the Home department and noted that its reluctance was “akin to hesitation to comply withthe order of this court.”

The court had earlier directed the personal appearance of the Additional Chief Secretary (BCWD) to explain the delay in deciding on the sanction to prosecute an accused BCWD official in the microfinance case. However, the file was forwarded only on September 10. The ACS informed the court on Friday (September 11), that she had not received the file for consideration.

The ACS informed the court that the prosecution sanction would be considered and a decision would be taken by September 18. The court directed the personal appearance of the ACS, if an order was not issued regarding the sanction by the prescribed date.

The sanction for prosecution was sought in the cases pertaining to the alleged misappropriation of loans disbursed to the SNDP Yogam between 2003 and 2014 by the Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation to benefit backward communities. The accused included SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, M.N. Soman, K.K. Mahesan, K.S. Sabu, Vasanthkumar, T. Prabhakaran, and R. Purushothaman.