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]