The government will present a Money Lending Bill during
the Assembly session, which will commence on Thursday. A decision to
this effect was taken during a Cabinet meeting held here on Wednesday.
The
government also decided to institute a judicial probe into the call
money racket. Director-General of Police J.V. Ramudu and City Police
Commissioner Gautam Sawang briefed the Cabinet about the racket.
“Post-bifurcation,
the State lacked a Money Lending Act, while the neighbouring Telangana
and Tamil Nadu have such Acts, but they are not effective. The Cabinet
has, in principle, agreed to come up with an Act, and it will be tabled
during the Assembly session,” Finance Minister Yenamala Ramakrishnudu
said here on Wednesday.
“A draft policy has already
been prepared, and the Law Department is studying the guidelines of the
Act implemented in other States. The department will also check for
loopholes before preparing a comprehensive policy. Once the policy is
ready, a bill will be presented during the Assembly session,” he added.
The Minister also advised victims of the call money racket to lodge
complaints without any fear, adding that they do not have to make
payments to lenders. He said the government was committed to taking
stern action against those involved in the racket, irrespective of their
affiliations to any political party.
The Minister
said a judicial commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, would
be appointed to investigate the call money racket. “The commission will
suggest measures to be taken to curb such unlawful activities in future.
This will be in addition to the police investigation,” he added.
80 people arrested so far
Information
and Public Relations Minister Palle Raghunath Reddy said as many as 80
people had been arrested till date across the State in connection with
the call money scandal. Of these, 27 have affiliation with the YSRC, six
with the TDP and three with Left parties.
“The YSRC
and the Congress have no right to question the government’s commitment
to curb such irregularities. It is ironic that the YSRC and its
president Jaganmohan Reddy, who are known for their involvement in
various scams, are criticising the TDP,” Mr. Reddy said.
Source: The Hindu, 17-Dec-2015
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