Muvattupuzha recovery controversy: Bank officials refuse to accept cheque, finally accepts after dispute

MUVATTUPUZHA: The bank officials refused to accept Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA’s cheque given to close the loan of the family after their house was attached for default of loan payment. The bank authorities attached the family’s property and vacated the sisters when their parents were not at home. Some dramatic scenes were witnessed in the bank when Ajesh and his wife Manju came to close the loan. The bank authorities said they cannot accept the cheque as the loan was closed with the amount given by the employees. Ajesh and his wife produced a cheque of Rs 1,35,686 including that of MLA’s salary. However, when Ajesh said that he was not informed of closing the loan and that he had come to close it, the bank accepted the cheque. But the bank clarified that the loan could not be credited to Ajesh's loan account. Ajesh said that he cannot pay money to CITU. Ajesh argued why they accepted money without asking him.

The bank officials attached their house in Payipra after making the children stand outside for default in loan repayment of Rs 150,000. The house belonged to Ajesh, a Scheduled Caste and a photographer. Ajesh has four school going children. His son is in tenth class, twin girls in standard seven and the younger girl in fifth standard. Ajesh, a heart patient and his wife were in the hospital at the time of the incident.

Soon after the incident stoked a controversy, employees of CITU members of Urban Bank intervened and repaid the arrears. This was after Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA submitted a letter to the bank saying that he would take over the family’s financial liability of Ajesh. Ajesh had asserted that he did not want the money of the bank employees who had insulted him and his family on the social media. Though some more time was sought until Ajesh arrives from the hospital from attaching the house, the bank refused to grand so.

Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA said that he would take over the liability after the incident. He had informed that he would repay the pending loan amount and restore the house to Ajesh. The MLA smashed open the lock of the house and took the children inside. He said the issue is not being politicized and that it has turned a normal incident.

Muvattupuzha Urban Co-operative bank CEO Jose K Peter had resigned from his post soon after Co-operation Minister V N Vasavan directed action against officials in the incident. Gopi Kottamurikkal, chairman of Kerala Bank informed that his resignation has been accepted.