The accounts of 25 fake labour cooperatives enrolled with the Mumbai District Central Co-Operative Bank Ltd (Mumbai Bank), have been sealed as part of ongoing inquiry by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, into the alleged financial mismanagement of the bank.

Besides, the inquiry about 74 labour co-operatives which were granted recognition by the Board of the Directors of the Mumbai Bank is also on. Of these a charge sheet is being filed in 7-8 cases after completion of investigations. In one case the charge sheet has already been filed, sources told the Sprouts Investigation team.

The inquiries are being conducted about financial mismanagement in the Mumbai Bank by the EOW for the last few years. The Board of the Directors had granted recognition to74 labour co-operatives in one day in 2011-2012.

The inquiry into the Mumbai Bank scam gained momentum after Joint Commissioner Niket Kaushik took over the investigation. It has been proved that some of the labour cooperatives are really bogus, Kaushik has pointed out.

The role of Sprouts

Before awarding work to labour cooperatives, basic documents like Aadhar cards, Pan Cards, bank passbooks should be verified. Besides, a proof that any person receiving the work is a labourer in real sense, should also be verified. So that frauds can be avoided. The contracts worth crores of rupees are awarded by MHADA, PWD and other departments to labour cooperatives. However the quality of the work leaves much to be desired.

“After leader of the Opposition in the state legislative council Pravin Darekar was disqualified as a “labourer” by the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, it is imperative that the credentials of all the members enrolled as “labourers” are verified”

Dhananjay Shinde
Maharashtra Secretary,
Aam Aadmi Party