Employment of criminals as recovery agents causes concern

Employment of criminals as recovery agents causes concern

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore Feb 19: Prashanth Shetty, who belongs to Ravi Poojary’s gang and was arrested recently by the DCBI teams on grounds of attempting to extort money from prominent businessmen in Mangalore, was employed by 2 nationalized banks as well as ICICI Bank as a recovery agent. He led a team of 3 recovery agents to confiscate vehicles and recover loans whenever the banks ordered him to do so. 

 

Cases of banks and other financial institutions appointing people with criminal records as recovery agents are not new; however, the people of Dakshina Kannada had believed that the banks along the coast of Karnataka were more careful about who they employed. Simultaneously, the banks are aware that soft-spoken and polite individuals can never make efficient recovery agents, which is why they make it a point to employ tough people with criminal backgrounds. 

 

Police Commissionaire and Inspector General of Police Gopal B Hosur is determined to stop banks from employing criminals as recovery agents. He is planning to serve notices on the banks in question and to hold meetings with bank authorities to inform them about the seriousness of providing livelihood to criminals. 

 

Police sources also say that the procedure of giving new telephone connections without any verification has encouraged criminals to engage in criminal activities without fear. Superintendent of Police Dr. A S Rao said that the courts are not in favor of booking companies selling SIM cards without proper verification. He said that courts immediately provide bail to such persons if criminal intent is not proved. He is of the opinion that the problem can be solved only if the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India takes the initiative to enforce proper procedures of providing new telephone connections.