Latur returns land taken by illegal moneylenders to two farmers ahead of Diwali

Two of the plots that illegal moneylenders in Latur had grabbed from farmers have been returned to their rightful owners. The lands had been transferred to the moneylenders' names by exploiting the farmers' financial distress and lack of understanding. Following a firm decision by the state Cooperation Department and the Latur district administration, two farmers got back what was theirs just before Diwali, and the festival was a truly happy one for their families.

The Cooperation Department is running a stepped-up campaign against illegal private moneylending in the district, under the supervision of Collector Dr Bharat Bastewad and Superintendent of Police Amol Tambe. As part of it, District Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies Vishnu Potangle used the provisions of Section 18(2) of the Maharashtra Money-Lending (Regulation) Act, 2014. He had cancelled the illegal sale deeds executed for moneylending in two key cases.

The first case is from Kalkoti village in Chakur taluka. Mandubai Irappa Davare had taken a loan at interest from a local moneylender, Kisan Govind Almale, for her daughter's wedding. As security for the loan, the moneylender took advantage of her lack of understanding and had a sale deed of her field written. The Cooperation Department's inquiry established that this was never a purchase and sale but security taken for a moneylending loan. A case was registered at Chakur police station, and Mandubai's 1 hectare 80 are of land was returned to her.

The second case is from Thor Makni in Nilanga taluka. Waman Shripati Suryavanshi had taken a loan from moneylender Sharad Digambar Patil because of financial difficulties. The moneylender had a guarantee written against his 40 are of land and got it transferred first to his own name and then to someone else's. The District Deputy Registrar's inquiry showed from the evidence that this transaction, too, was made for illegal moneylending. He too has legally got his land back.

On Thursday, Collector Dr Bastewad and Superintendent of Police Tambe handed the farmers the seven-twelve land records for the transfer. District Deputy Registrar Vishnu Potangle was also present.

Under Section 18 of the Act, cooperation registrars have special powers to trace property grabbed in a moneylending transaction and return it to the rightful owner. The deputy registrar used these powers to cancel such sale deeds. In addition, the Cooperation Department has had cases registered under Section 39 at various police stations against eight people for illegal moneylending.

At Udgir Rural police station, a case has been registered against Balure Piraji Baburao (Santoshi Mata Nagar, Udgir). At Ausa police station, cases are against Adil Madarsaab Shaikh (Khore Galli) and Farooq Usmansaab Sayyed (Alampura), while at Murud police station the case is against Saurabh Ashokkumar Garg (Hatte Nagar, Latur). At Nilanga police station, the case is against Tukaram Ismail Wajanam (Nilanga), and at Shivaji Nagar police station in Latur against Bibita alias Kavita Balaji Shinde (Khadgaon Road, Latur). Cases are also pending against Kashinath Hanmantrao Mhetre (Naik Chowk, Latur) and Santosh Raosaheb Upade (Barshi Road, Latur), and at Vivekanand Chowk police station a case has been registered against Pandurang Sidram Suryavanshi (Juna Bhablagaon Road, Latur). The action was based on initial evidence found in raids carried out after complaints of illegal moneylending.

So far 145 complaints against illegal moneylending have been received in the district. Investigation is complete in 66 of them, the complaint was found to be correct in 14, and cases have been registered against 8 people. Further action on the remaining complaints is proceeding quickly.

Dr Bastewad said that getting land written over through sale deeds by exploiting farmers' illiteracy or financial trouble is a crime in the eyes of the law and amounts to illegal moneylending. He urged any farmer who has been cheated in this way to complain directly to the Cooperation Department without fear. He said the government and administration are committed to securing justice for the affected farmers, that such complaints will be acted on immediately in future, and that the guilty will be booked.

The administration has stepped up the campaign. To ensure farmers are not cheated even by licensed moneylenders, the transactions of all 373 licensed moneylenders in the district will be examined. These moneylenders have disbursed loans of Rs 19.71 crore to 3,534 people. To curb moneylending outside the rules, the Collector has directed immediate action. He has asked that the loan disbursals of all licensed moneylenders be scrutinised and a report submitted soon.