Nashik: The bribery scam involving Buta Singh and his son may have serious repercussions for the father-son duo, but there are others who are stuck in the middle of this scam.
These are poor workers who have loans upto Rs 15 lakh against their names but haven't got a single rupee.
Conservancy worker Keshav Gupadare is one of the many trapped in the scam allegedly involving Buta Singh's son. Gupadare once worked for Nashik-based contractor Ramrao Patil who supplied garbage trucks to the municipality.
He claims that five years ago Patil promised an insurance scheme and provident fund to a 100 Dalit workers like him. Patil then took Rs 10 crore loan against their name, money which they claim they never got.
Now, a local cooperative bank is demanding they repay loan amounts between Rs 10 to 15 lakh.
"We were made to stand in a line and sign on blank paper. We then complained to our union and they asked to register a police complaint," Gupadare said.
It was to cover this loan scandal that Buta singh's son Sarabhjot allegedly demanded a bribe from Patil.
"It is sad that a person like Buta Singh is involved in trapping poor people," said Prakash Mathe, former Mayor, Nashik.
Patil is now untraceable, and in the midst of this political scandal the plight of these workers has been forgotten.