AgriGold Scam: Chaos erupts at Udupi Verification Centre; Police Implement Token System by Taluk

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Udupi : An Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) team, operating in collaboration with Karnataka CID officials, has initiated a comprehensive document verification drive at the Udupi District Police Superintendent’s office in Bannanje for victims of the multi-crore AgriGold scam across Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. However, high tension and widespread confusion prevailed on Wednesday as hundreds of distressed investors thronged the venue far exceeding the daily allotted token limit, prompting senior police officials to intervene and restructure the verification procedure.

Headquartered in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, AgriGold fraudulently amassed Rs 1,639.63 crore from 8,41,616 investors across Karnataka by setting up 56 branches and luring victims with promises of high interest rates, doubled returns, and residential plots. With the matter currently pending before the court, joint CID teams established special bond verification centres at several district police headquarters to collect validated records. In Udupi, where an estimated 1.5 lakh victims reside across Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts, a strict verification schedule was framed from October 27 to November 2, issuing 150 tokens daily.

As news spread, huge crowds including elderly citizens, women, and victims traveling from far-off places like Dandeli and Harihara gathered at the Bannanje office early in the morning. Since only 150 individuals were permitted per day, chaos ensued as non-token holders refused to leave and demanded immediate processing. Udupi DySP Belliappa pacified the gathering by assuring everyone that nobody would be left out and announced a reformed taluk-wise schedule starting the following day to avoid overcrowding.

According to the revised schedule released by the police, October 29 to 31 has been exclusively reserved for customers from Hebri taluk. Specifically, all villages of Hebri taluk can attend on October 29, Muniyalu and surrounding areas on October 30, and Ajekaru and nearby villages on October 31. Daily distribution of 150 tokens will commence at 8:00 AM on a first-come, first-served basis. Agents or relatives are permitted to submit documents on behalf of bedridden, pregnant, elderly, or disabled individuals provided they bring valid medical certificates. November 1 will be a holiday, and the schedule for remaining taluks post-November 2 will be notified by October 31 evening. For queries, the public can contact 0820-2526444 or 9480805400.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar stated that Andhra Pradesh authorities have been requested to extend the verification deadline past November 2, considering that Udupi district alone has over 40,000 victims. Since officials can process only about 150 files daily, two to three days will be dedicated to each taluk systematically to ensure every claim is properly verified without causing hardship to citizens.