Bharatiya Janata Party’s latest entrant, the former Congress MLA Ramprasad Bordikar, faces charges of misusing ₹8 crore of farmers’ money while working as the president of Parbhani District Central Co-operative Bank (DCCB) in 2010-11.
The charges come as the party gears up for the Shiwar Samwad Sabha (farm communication rallies) from Thursday to showcase its achievements among farmers. Mr. Bordikar joined the BJP in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week. Ironically, it was Mr. Fadnavis, as an opposition MLA in 2011, who demanded Mr. Bordikar’s arrest and an inquiry into the usurping of farmers’ money by promising insurance cover. The BJP lacks a strong candidate in Parbhani and Mr. Bordikar’s entry was expected to boost the party’s fortunes.
Mr. Bordikar was in jail for 68 days in 2012 after the Supreme Court refused to grant him anticipatory bail. He is barred from entering Parbhani city as the court fears he may tamper with the evidence. The case is under process at the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Parbhani. The complaint was filed by Saurajsingh Parihar, a former director of the bank who opposed the insurance scheme.
Advocate Pratap Bangar, who is fighting Mr. Parihar’s case, said, “As president of DCCB, he approved a bogus life insurance scheme for 1.14 lakh farmers. In total, ₹8 crore of premium money was allegedly usurped by Mr. Bordikar and others. He was jailed for 68 days and later released on bail. The court proceedings against him are in progress. He has joined the BJP for protection in this case.”
During a recent Assembly session, Nationalist Congress Party MLA Jayant Patil slammed the BJP for enrolling people like Mr. Bordikar. “Is this what you call a clean governance, where someone accused of a scam enters the party in the presence of the CM?”
A senior BJP leader said Mr. Bordikar cannot be seen as a criminal till the charges are proved in court.
