A case was today filed against SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan and his son Thushar Vellapally, whose political outfit is part of the NDA, for allegedly swindling Rs 1.54 crore using fake self-help groups, police said.
SNDP is a social organisation of the numerically strong backward Ezhava community in the state and Thushal Vellappally is its vice-president besides heading the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a key partner of the BJP-led NDA.
The case was registered based on a complaint from Divakaran and Sudharshan, both native of Chengannur in the district, police said.
Six other SNDP local unit officer-bearers including Ratheesh Kumar, Anil P Sreerangam and K K Maheshan, have also been named as accused in the FIR, police said.
According to the complainants, the accused had allegedly swindled the amount from various public sector banks in the name of fake self-help groups formed under the Chengannur branch of SNDP Yogam over a period of time.
The case was registered under various sections of IPC including section 420 (cheating), police said, adding the investigation would be carried out by its crime branch wing.
Similar cases related to alleged irregularities of micro financing in some other parts of the state are pending against the SNDP chief and his son.