Belagavi: Some people who have invested in ZP president Asha Aihole and her husband Prashantrao Aihole’s finance company protested in front of the ZP office here on Thursday demanding a refund Asha and Prashanthrao Shri Mahalaxmi Multi-trade and Distribution Pvt Ltd at Athani in 2009.The protesters alleged that the couple had collected several crores from the public as investment and was not refunding them. A protester said, “Whenever we went to ask for our money, they threatened of booking an atrocity case against us. Hundreds of people from Athani, Kolhapur, Nippani, Chikkodi, Jalgaon and Vijaypura have invested their hard money. Now, the couple is refusing to return their money and give interest as per the promise they had made earlier.”“We went to file a complaint against them but police did not take any action as both are politically influential persons. Thus we decided to protest until we get our money,” a protester said.Asha, who had come to attend the general meeting at the zilla panchayat, addressed the protesters. “I resigned as the president of that company seven years ago. Thus I don't have any relation with this scam,” she said.However the investors were not convinced by her reply. They then went to the ZP CEO and DC office to speak about their problems and submitted a memorandum.Miffed with CEO, Asha Aihole boycotts meetingThere was chaos during the general body meeting of Belagavi zilla panchayat on Thursday after ZP president Asha Aihole boycotted the meeting after making some allegations against ZP CEO R Ramachandran.Asha alleged that Ramachandran had not informed her about Rs1 crore released by the government to supply drinking water in rural areas. She added that she was not being given circulars sent by the government. “Myself and all ZP members are being insulted by officers,” she alleged before walking out of the meeting hall.The members present, however, expressed anger against Asha for boycotting the meeting as she could not do it as per protocol. They later convinced her to return to the meeting.Ramachandran clarified that the Rs 1 crore was sanctioned for drinking water schemes in April 2018 when the model code of conduct was in force. “Thus I had the right to spend that amount. However, I had informed ZP members about it and implemented the scheme. Now Rs 37 lakh out of the money has lapsed and the rest of the money will be utilized as per the requirement of members. All circulars will be sent to the president’s chamber now onwards,” he said.ZP members ‘insulted’ZP member Jitendra Madar said two farmer leaders who had illegally entered the hall during the previous meeting have lodged a complaint against him at Market Police station. “Although that case has been closed by police, it is a big insult to ZP members,” he said. Some of the other members seconded Madar’s opinion.

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