The Kerala High Court has allotted a one‑month "last chance" to the investigating officer handling the ₹15.85 crore SNDP micro‑finance fraud case. The state government told the court that genuine efforts were made, but additional time is needed to complete the probe and file the final report.

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a decisive order, granting the officer investigating the alleged ₹15.85 crore micro‑finance scam linked to the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam one more month as a "last and final chance" to wrap up the inquiry. The ruling follows a petition by M.S. Anil of Cherthala, who demanded a thorough vigilance probe into the alleged misappropriation.

Background and Case History

The case was first registered in 2016 after allegations that government loans disbursed through SNDP Yogam between 2003 and 2014 were misused. The micro‑finance scheme was originally designed to empower marginalised communities in Kerala, but soon became embroiled in accusations of fund diversion. In November 2024, the investigation was entrusted to S. Sasidharan, a senior officer of the state vigilance department.

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Judicial Order and Government’s Response

Justice A. Badharudeen was apprised by the state government that the investigating officer had made "bona fide attempts" but required an additional month to finalize the report. Accepting this explanation, the court granted the officer a one‑month extension, effectively setting a deadline for the submission of the final findings.

Petitioner’s Objections and Call for a New Officer

The petitioner, however, filed a separate application seeking the replacement of Officer S. Sasidharan, arguing that the officer had repeatedly sought extensions, thereby giving the accused undue advantage. The petition suggested Deputy Inspector General Jayanth Jaganathan, currently posted with the Human Rights Commission, as a more suitable replacement.

Implications and Wider Significance

Kerala currently has 124 pending vigilance cases, with a final report filed in only one. This court‑ordered extension could set a precedent for faster case closures and stricter accountability across the state’s judicial apparatus. Should the final report uncover concrete evidence of financial misappropriation, it may trigger a national conversation on tightening oversight of micro‑finance institutions and safeguarding public funds.