Indian state reopens debt, suicide investigations

(March 16, 2012) A southern Indian state says it is investigating 76 criminal cases against employees of Indian lenders accused of driving over indebted borrowers to suicide. Some of those cases had been closed by police. Andhra Pradesh state blamed a spate of suicides in late 2010 on aggressive lending and collection tactics by microfinance companies. The companies denied responsibility. R. Subrahmanyam, principal secretary for rural development in Andhra Pradesh, said his department had sent teams to villages to assist police investigators and are scheduled to report their initial findings next Wednesday. He said on Thursday some cases may have been closed or stalled but can be reopened if good evidence is found.