Nagpur: Maharashtra’s cooperation department does not maintain a centralised database or tracking mechanism for First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in cases of fraud, embezzlement and financial irregularities involving cooperative banks, credit societies and other cooperative institutions, an RTI reply has revealed.The disclosure came in response to an application filed by Sanjay Thool, president of the Association of Social and RTI Activists, who had sought details of FIRs registered against cooperative institutions across Maharashtra over past 20 years, along with names of the institutions and the outcomes of related court cases.In a reply under Right to Information Act, public information officer and assistant registrar Sanjay Arakh stated criminal complaints in such cases are registered at local level by district deputy registrars, assistant registrars or special auditors. Once an FIR is lodged, investigation, filing of chargesheets and trial proceedings fall within jurisdiction of the police and judiciary.As a result, cooperation commissioner and registrar’s office does not maintain any consolidated or centralised record of FIRs, investigations or court judgments related to financial irregularities in cooperative institutions, the reply said.Following the disclosure, Thool has written to CM Devendra Fadnavis, urging the govt to introduce systemic reforms to improve transparency and safeguard public deposits in the cooperative sector.He has sought creation of a state-level digital portal under cooperation commissioner for maintaining a central repository of all FIRs and criminal cases registered against cooperative institutions across Maharashtra.Thool also proposed that cooperation department’s official website host a dedicated dashboard displaying status of FIRs, chargesheets and court proceedings in such cases.In addition, he called for a state-level monitoring mechanism to conduct quarterly reviews of police investigations and judicial progress in cases involving cooperative institutions, arguing that such oversight would strengthen accountability and public confidence in the sector.The RTI disclosure has highlighted a gap in institutional oversight, raising questions over how state monitors criminal proceedings involving thousands of cooperative institutions that handle public funds across Maharashtra.#Key takeaways:RTI reveals Maharashtra lacks a central database for FIRs against cooperative institutions.Cooperation Commissioner’s office does not track investigations or court outcomes.FIRs are registered locally by district and taluka-level cooperation authorities.Police and judiciary handle investigations, chargesheets and trials.Activist Sanjay Thul has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.He has demanded a state-level digital portal for all cooperative fraud cases.Proposal includes a public dashboard showing FIR, chargesheet and court status.Quarterly monitoring of investigations and trials has also been suggested.
