Criminal cases were filed against 182 farmers in Kadapa district in Hyderabad because they allegedly submitted false documents to obtain crop loans.

The police say that these farmers had availed crop loans worth Rs. 96.24 lakh from the Andhra Branch at Rayachoti during last Kharif season.

The bank had provided loans up to Rs 1.57 crore out of which loans amounting to Rs. 96.24 lakh were sanctioned on fake records. The issue came to notice when some farmers who were not denied loans complained to the bank authorities.

Sources said that Ranjit Basha, revenue divisional officer, checked the records and submitted a report to the collector based on which the police filed cases against these farmers. A senior bank manager also probed the matter and found that the charges against these farmers were correct.

The apex bank has asked the public sector banks to submit short term loan estimates for farmers so that the government can keep aside that amount.