Museum police book Southern Green Farming society members for duping depositors

Thiruvananthapuram: Museum police booked the chairman and board members of Southern Green Farming and Marketing Multi-State Co-operative Society for allegedly defrauding several people by offering attractive interest rates.

The accused allegedly offered 12.5% interest to lure people into the fraud, but the depositors did not receive both the interest and their hard-earned money.

Museum police began a probe after registering cases under IPC sections 406 for criminal breach of trust and 420 for cheating. "The accused, who are absconding, are from Ernakulam, and they possessed a licence to open such societies across the state. So far, three people have filed complaints against them. We think more people may come up with complaints in the coming days as the accused cheated several people out of crores of rupees," said police.

The accused were running an office of the society at Sasthamangalam, and they even recruited agents to lure people into the fraud, police said. Police have intensified the search for the accused.

"During various intervals from March 2023 till Oct 2024, I deposited Rs 24.5 lakh at the society, eyeing the interest offered by them. The amounts were deposited in my name and in the names of my husband, son, and daughter. Interest was given only in the first few months, and the accused cited some technical issues for the delay. They sought some time to rectify the issue. When I demanded my deposits back, they denied me the money. I then approached the police with a complaint," said a 71-year-old woman residing at Kuravankonam.