Surat: A loan scam worth crores of rupees has come to light at Kantha Sugar Mill in Sarsa village of Olpad taluka in Surat district, creating unrest in the cooperative sector. The mill management allegedly obtained a loan of Rs 15.65 crore from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) by submitting forged documents showing inflated sugar stock.

According to the complaint, only about 4,000 quintals of sugar were actually stored in the mill godown, but documents were prepared showing a stock of nearly 59,000 quintals. The loan was sanctioned on the basis of these records without proper physical verification, raising questions over negligence.

Brijesh Patel, chairman of the Government-appointed Custodian Committee of Kantha Sugar Mill, lodged a complaint in the matter. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Pradeep Padun, then Managing Director of the mill, Pradeep Patel, godown keeper, and one Jatin Nayak.

Police said all three accused have been arrested and further investigation is in progress to ascertain the involvement of others. DeshGujarat