Congress Caught in Rs. 2.65 Cr Job Scam at Nedumangad Bank

Thiruvananthapuram: Serious allegations of corruption have surfaced at the Nedumangad Co-operative Urban Bank, where Congress leaders are accused of illegally appointing candidates to non-existent posts in exchange for bribes.

According to reports, 16 people were recently appointed to various positions without any official vacancies or due process. In some cases, two individuals were appointed to the same role. Over the past two and a half years, at least 30 such appointments were allegedly made.

Bribes totalling Rs. 2.65 crore were reportedly collected from the newly appointed candidates.

Investigations reveal that many of the posts were not included in the bank’s official bylaws. Attendance records for these employees were maintained in a handwritten 200-page notebook instead of official registers.

The scam came to light after several individuals who paid large sums but did not receive appointments filed complaints. Those who came forward include residents from Kaniyapuram, Kurunthali, Vattappara, Karakulam, Vempayam and Venjaramoodu areas of Thiruvananthapuram district.

The allegations have caused unrest within the Congress party itself. A faction has accused several senior leaders of being directly involved in the scam. Those named include former District Congress Committee (DCC) president Palode Ravi, Anad Jayan, bank president Thekkada Anil, block president T. Arjunan, and former block president Kallayam Sukumaran.

Formal complaints have been submitted to the Leader of the Opposition and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph. The accusations include not only bribery but also nepotism and financial fraud. In addition to job-related corruption, there are claims of misusing deposit funds and issuing benami loans.

The Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM) has demanded a Vigilance inquiry into the matter and announced a protest against the Congress-led bank administration. The party accused the bank’s board of collecting crores by falsely promising jobs to candidates.

A protest march is scheduled for Saturday. The demonstration will begin at 4:30 p.m. from the Urban Bank and conclude with a public meeting at Nedumangad at 5:00 p.m.

CPI(M) area secretary K.P. Pramosh demanded the immediate cancellation of all illegal appointments and strict action against those involved.

This controversy follows closely on the heels of another financial scandal involving the Mundela Rajiv Gandhi Welfare Co-operative Society. That case resulted in the recent suicide of journalist Anad Shashi, who had exposed irregularities linked to Congress leaders.