Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 18: Agrigold Customers and Agents Welfare Association (R) has informed that a mega rally-cum-protest march will be taken to the office of the deputy commissioner of the district from Sangh Niketan compound on April 25 to draw attention of the concerned about the cheating of people of Karnataka by Agrigold group of concerns.

The association, which is affiliated to Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, alleged that Agrigold group of concerns, which had operations spread over nine states and a union territory, had collected about Rs 7,000 crore through 32 lac customers and eight lac agents. They accused the company of defrauding the customers and agents by not repaying the money due even after three years after their maturity. The organisation claimed that over 125 aggrieved customers of the group had committed suicide and lacs have become destitute.

Two public interest litigations were filed in Andhra Pradesh high court, and with the intervention of this association, they were clubbed into one. In its internal order of the court, it has ordered the Agrigold management should desist from undertaking any transactions, and that its assets including Benami ones should be seized and auctioned. In spite of this order, because of the conspiracy of the management, the properties have not been sold, and poor customers continue to suffer, they said. The association stated that Andalu Ramesh Babu, who is the original petitioner, and national president of the association will attend the court hearing and other matters.

The association explained that the rally is being organized demanding justice to Agrigold customers and agents. Noting that the customers have been inflicting physical and mental torture on Agrigold agents, they want an order to be passed by the superintendent of police against registration of police cases against the agents. The customers and agents want their money back with interest and issuance of duplicate copies of receipts, bonds etc in case of lost deposit receipts. They further asked for payment of pending commission, bonus, TDS, share and dividend due to the agents. Another demand of the association is for the state government to give impetus to Criminal Investigation Department's investigation and impounding of assets standing in the name of Agrigold directors. They want the issue to be raised in the assembly, and also want the government to  refund money to the aggrieved people like West Bengal government did in the case of Sharadha chit fund scam, and then recover money by auctioning property of Agrigold.