Gandhinagar/Surat, April 21 (IANS) A month-long statewide crackdown on illegal moneylending in Gujarat has led to the arrest of 136 alleged usurers and the registration of 110 cases, police said on Tuesday, as authorities moved to curb coercive recovery practices and threats linked to high-interest loans.​

The special drive was carried out from March 15 to April 14 on the instructions of Director General of Police (DGP) K.L.N. Rao, with a focus on dismantling networks engaged in usury and addressing complaints from people facing harassment due to mounting debt.​

Officials said the drive was launched to tackle the “menace of usury” at its roots and to prevent vulnerable individuals from being pushed into extreme distress.​

Highlighting the nature of threats reported in such cases, police cited instances where borrowers were told, “If you don’t pay within two days, I will kill you,” describing it as not merely a threat but an act of intimidation that could drive financially distressed individuals to the brink of suicide.​

“When elements blinded by greed for interest resort to recovery at knife-point, an ordinary person can be pushed to the edge,” officials said.​

One such case was reported from Surat, where a youth, Ayush, from a modest family had borrowed Rs 20,000 in June 2025 at an interest rate of 10 per cent from an accused identified as Preet alias Bhim Sosa.​

Police said Rs 2,000 was deducted in advance and a blank cheque was taken from him, following which the borrower was subjected to continued pressure.​

When Ayush sought more time to repay the amount, the accused, along with Ankit Thakor, allegedly stopped him on the road, abused him, and threatened him with a knife, warning that he would be killed if he failed to repay.​

Acting on the complaint, Surat’s Chowk Bazaar police registered a case and arrested both accused.​

Police said further action was taken under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA) to ensure the accused do not pose a threat to society, and both were sent to separate jails.​

Officials said Gujarat Police were not limiting their response to registering offences but were also reaching out to people through ‘Lok Darbar’ initiatives to raise awareness about the risks of illegal moneylending.​

As part of the outreach, citizens are being informed about government loan schemes to help them avoid falling into the clutches of usurers.​

The police said the crackdown was part of ongoing efforts to address financial exploitation and ensure timely intervention in cases where borrowers face intimidation or violence.​

–IANS

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