Govt thinks I am a political threat, trying to implicate me: Churchill
The former PWD minister, Mr Churchill Alemao, on Tuesday, said that the government, considering him to be an actual political threat in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, is trying to implicate him in a loan default case, wherein it had to be in all actuality against the bank — Goa State
Co-operative Bank, which announced a scheme to settle loans with one-time repayment.
It may be recalled that an FIR has been registered against the Goa State Co-operative Bank by the Crime Branch for announcing a scheme of one-time settlement for the borrowers to clear their loans and causing losses.
FIR has also been lodged against Mr Alemao by the Crime Branch on Monday as beneficiary of the scheme. He had obtained a loan of Rs 2.20 lakh from the bank and repaid it when the scheme was announced.
Addressing the media, and clarifying that he was deeply hurt by reports, Mr Alemao said, “there were in all 260 borrowers who had obtained loan from the bank. We all appealed to the bank to have a scheme for one-time settlement and the bank agreed and these loans were repaid. My loan was of just rupees two lakh twenty thousand, whereas others had borrowed crores of rupees.”
The loan was taken to buy Contessa vehicle in the year 1989, he added.
He further said that he is not a cheater, adding the loan was repaid after the bank collectively decided to implement the one-time settlement scheme.
Mr Alemao questioned the government as to why the case is registered against the customers and not directly against the bankers.
“The government is scared of me because Congress party will give me ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election and that they may lose the South Goa seat,’’ he added.
When asked as how the case can be politically motivated, Mr Alemao said that some people are trying to malign his political image, “but the people of South Goa know Churchill.’’
On being asked as to whether any correspondence with regard to the case has been received, he replied in negative. [NT]