Hariprasad urges SIT probe into cooperative bank irregularities involving BJP MLA

Congress member of the Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad has called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged irregularities at the Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank in Malpe, Udupi district. In the Legislative Council, Hariprasad alleged that a fraud of over ₹25 crore was committed through the creation of fake documents showing customers had availed loans from the bank.

The incident comes after the bank's chairman, who is also a local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), died by suicide. Hariprasad suggested that the manager of the bank may have been involved in the fraud and that unknown persons could be implicated. Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, speaking on behalf of the Cooperation Minister, agreed that the case is serious and pledged to request the Minister and the State government to constitute an SIT for a thorough investigation.