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Confusion Over MD Post at Hanumangarh Central Cooperative Bank Following Corruption Case


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Hanumangarh Central Cooperative Bank is facing operational challenges after a corruption case led to confusion regarding its Managing Director (MD) position. The situation worsened when Rs 8.5 lakh in suspicious funds was recovered from the bank’s Chief Manager, Sanjay Sharma, by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). This incident has created uncertainty among bank staff, who are unsure whose orders to follow, as two officers now claim the MD position.

The current MD, Suresh Meena, secured a stay order from the Jodhpur High Court against his suspension. However, the state government simultaneously appointed Deputy Registrar Deepak Kukkad as the new MD, citing administrative exigency. Meena challenged this appointment, arguing that Kukkad, a junior officer, was inappropriately given the role. The High Court ruled that Meena could continue at his current post until further notice.

This dual leadership has left the bank staff in a dilemma, affecting the bank’s daily operations. Employees are uncertain about whose instructions to follow, further complicating the bank’s functioning.

Background of the Case

The controversy began with a corruption complaint regarding a subsidy of Rs 25 lakh allocated for building warehouses under the “World’s Largest Food Storage Scheme.” The ACB recovered Rs 8.5 lakh from Sanjay Sharma’s car near Kohala Toll Naka on January 10. Following this, the Cooperative Department suspended MD Suresh Meena on January 12, citing his involvement in the irregularities. Meena immediately contested his suspension in the High Court, which granted him relief on January 15.

On the same day, the state government appointed Deepak Kukkad as the new MD, effectively making Meena an Awaiting Posting Order (APO). Meena filed another petition challenging Kukkad’s appointment, leading to the High Court’s interim order allowing Meena to continue at his current post until a final decision is made.

Warehouse Construction Scheme Under Scrutiny

The corruption case is linked to the “World’s Largest Food Storage Scheme,” aimed at enhancing food storage capacity in rural areas. Under this scheme, 100 village service cooperative societies across Rajasthan were sanctioned Rs 25 lakh each to build warehouses with a capacity of 500 metric tonnes. In Hanumangarh, 10 societies received approval, while 9 societies in Sri Ganganagar district were also included. The scheme is designed to prevent food storage issues in rural regions.

ACB Investigation and Future Steps

The ACB has submitted its findings to its headquarters, where the case is under review. Meanwhile, the Cooperative Department has taken cognizance of the issue and initiated actions against those involved. However, the dual MD situation at Hanumangarh Central Cooperative Bank continues to disrupt its functioning.

Unresolved Questions

Efforts to contact Cooperative Registrar Manju Rajpal for comments on the matter were unsuccessful. The bank’s staff and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting clarity on the leadership and resolution of the corruption case.

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