The police, in a massive drive, cracked down on moneylenders charging ‘Meter Baddi’-exorbitant interest rates, and arrested 956 people, director general and inspector general of police Om Prakash said on Friday.

“As many as 1,177 cases were registered and 956 persons were arrested. Based on information, lenders  charging exorbitant interest rates, were rounded up and arrested.”
“In July alone, around 1,106 cases were registered and 888 persons were arrested. The  highest cases were registered in Mandya and Mysuru.

The drive was carried out after a spate of recent farmers suicides. More such drives will be carried out and people lending money at high interest rates will be punished as per the law,” added the officer.

Many farmers across the State committed suicide after they were unable to bear the ‘torture’ from moneylenders. They were also unable to pay the high interest rates.