Una (S Gopal Puri)
The Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCC) has once again found itself at the center of controversy, this time over a multi-crore loan scandal that has ignited political tensions and drawn the Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu into the line of fire. The loan, which was issued against established norms, has led to serious allegations from Yudh Chand Bains, the recipient of the controversial loan, who has directly implicated the sitting Congress CM.
As of the filing of this report, neither the Chief Minister’s office nor KCC Bank had issued any official response. Repeated attempts to reach KCC Chairman Kuldeep Pathania proved unsuccessful. Pathania, who has rarely defended the Chief Minister since his appointment as Chairman, has remained tight-lipped on the issue.
Bains, who has been vocal about his concerns, visited the Vigilance Office in Una to file a complaint on Saturday. Speaking to the media, he accused the sitting Congress CM of offering him significant financial compensation and government positions in exchange for withdrawing his complaint filed with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding illegal mining.
“I am being targeted with these FIRs because I am perceived as a close associate of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. I have also filed a complaint in ED and for that I was getting offers directly from CM,” Bains stated, adding further fuel to the political fire.
The loan issued to Bains, which has sparked widespread controversy, was ha come under scanner during the tenure of the BJP-led government in Himachal. A June 2022 inquiry into the loan had raised serious concerns, naming seven individuals, including a BJP leader who currently holds a constitutional post.
As highlighted in previous reports by The Newz Radar (TNR), this loan scandal has the potential to expose significant corruption and mismanagement, impacting both the BJP and Congress parties. A case has been registered by the vigilance department of Himachal regarding this loan case. Bains is scheduled to revisit the Vigilance Office on Monday for further proceedings, and political observers are watching closely to see how this developing case will unfold.
