KMDCL Chairman N. B. Aboobakkar rubbishes allegations of fund misuse

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 12, 2012: N. B. Aboobakkar, the chairman of the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Limited (KMDCL), has rubbished allegations that he had misappropriated government funds, which had been published by a Kannada daily on Feb 7. 

Addressing a press conference at Press Club on Feb 11, he produced documents to prove that he had never misused government funds. 

He said that a JD(S) worker called Amir Khan had accused him of misappropriating government funds, but that these allegations were baseless. Stating that he had toured all the districts in the state seven times to interact with minorities and enhance awareness of government welfare schemes for minorities among them, he said that he had come to know about the pathetic condition of minority communities in the flood-prone regions of Karnataka. Accordingly, he had arranged Rs. 3.20 crore in compensation and loan amounts for as many as 3090 beneficiaries under the KMDCL’s micro loan scheme. 

Further, he said that Rs. 37.08 lakh has been spent in renovating the office of KMDCL and Rs. 5 crore has been earmarked to construct a brand new building for KMDCL offices, proposed to be constructed on 6,500sq.ft. land in Sanjay Nagar with the assistance of BDA. 

He said that, of the total loan amount disbursed under the one-time settlement scheme, over Rs. 30 lakh was recovered, subsidy of Rs. 24.32 lakh was provided on interest by the government, and Rs. 2.37 crore interest was waived in case of 830 beneficiaries. 

Responding to the allegation that he had unnecessarily travelled to Delhi, he said that he had gone to New Delhi five times to meet the managing director of the National Minority Development and Finance Corporation, as a result of which Rs. 4.50 crore (2008 – 09), Rs. 3.50 crore (2009 – 10), and Rs. 10 crore (2011 – 12) were released for KMDCL. When he was the KMDCL chairman, Rs. 19.66 crore of loan was repaid, Rs. 8.15 crore of equity share was issued, and total shares worth Rs. 27.81 were issued, he declared. 

He also said that he held progress review meetings once in two months to discuss effective implementation of KMDCL projects for minority development in Karnataka. 

He further said that, ever since taking over as the chairman of KMDCL, he had officially received benefits such as car, house rent, DA, TA, and others from the state government. Accusing Amir Khan of doing brokerage business and poking his nose in government affairs, he said that Amir Khan had taken a loan to purchase an auto rickshaw and has not yet repaid the amount. He had also taken a loan of Rs. 33,250 in his wife’s name to run a baby-sitting service and had not repaid the loan, he alleged. 

The KMDCL chairman informed reporters that he has written to the CM demanding action to be taken against Amir Khan under the Goonda Act as he is a rowdy sheeter who is involved in criminal activities. 

Speaking about the achievements of KMDCL, he said that it has now risen from the 56th position to the number-one position owing to effective implementation of minority development schemes and projects. 

The above press conference was called in response to a new report published in a Kannada daily dated Feb 7, in which it was alleged that N. B. Aboobakker travelled to Bangalore 76 times by air and, at one time, spent over Rs. 1000 on chicken in a restaurant in Pandara Road when he was on his way to New Delhi. 

It was also alleged in the news report that he spent Rs. 1112749 (2009 – 10), Rs 1265809 (2010 – 11), Rs 557147 (2011 to current date), Rs 147280 on his PA in 2009 – 10, Rs 142600 (2010 – 11), Rs 80800 (2011 – 12) on his driver, Rs. 78,000 (2009 – 10), Rs. 78,000 (2010 – 11), and Rs. 63,000 (2011 – 12). 

Amir Khan, the JD (S) activist who had made these allegations, demanded a CID probe into the KMDCL accounts.