Pudukottai, Dec 15 (Agency) The Secretary of Keeranur Primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank in this district of Tamil Nadu, who was placed under suspension in connection with the Rs 1.08 crore alleged irregularities in the sanction of jewel loans, committed suicide by hanging in his house on Wednesday. Police sources said the body of Secretary, P.Neelakandan, was found hanging in the toilet at his home in Keeranur. The body was removed to the government medical college hospital for postmortem. The Keeranur police have registered a case and are investigating.
It may be recalled that Neelankandan and Superintendent of the Bank N.Sakthivel were suspended, while the gold appraiser N.Kanakavelu was dismissed from service over the irregularities. The State government had formed a team to enquire into the irregularities in the sanction of jewel loans by the cooperative societies. The Keeranur Primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank also came under the scanner and as per records, there should be 934 pouches of jewels valued at Rs 3.63 crore. But only 823 pouches were in the bank’s lockers. The remaining jewels worth Rs 1.08 crore, supposed to be in 102 pouches, were missing. It was found that Rs 1.08 crore was loaned without pledging the jewels in the bank.