The Sahara Refund Portal has become an integral medium to millions of depositors which have invested in different Sahara Group cooperative societies, who are all seeking to recoup their funds. This blog post will go into the ins and outs of the Sahara Refund Portal, how it came about, the process of claim and some important information every depositor should be aware of.
Timeline of the Sahara Group
The Rise of Sahara Group
The Sahara Group, which originally launched as a small savings business in Gorakhpur, India in 1978 by Subrata Roy. The empire became a conglomerate over time and ventured into other realms like Finance, Real Estate, Media Enterprise, Entertainment industry, Tourism & Hospitality, Health-care. Sahara Group gained prominence as the company maintained a huge workforce and rolled out a web of investment schemes that predominantly appealed to small investors through their cooperative societies.
Controversies And Legal Troubles
Sahara Group’s troubles started in the early 2000s itself, with charges of financial irregularities and bungling. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) claimed that the group had garnered billions through optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs) without obtaining necessary permission. Hence by 2012, these legal battles had prolonged to the extent that finally a Supreme Court order asked Sahara to refund over 24000 crores to investors. The Sahara Refund Portal was set up after several tries with many investors failing to get their money back.
The Sahara Refund Portal
Sahara Refund
The Sahara Refund Portal is an online tool created by the Cooperation Ministry To help depositors of cooperative societies formed by Sahara Group to claim refunds. This portal is to provide a clear way to give money back to investors who have been cheated out of their hard-earned cash, in a friendly and efficient manner.
Refund Eligibility Requirements
Societies Covered
The portal is available for depositors from the Sahara Group of societies:-
- Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Limited
- Saharayan Universal Multipurpose Society Limited
- Hamara India Credit Cooperative Society Limited
- Stars Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited
Investors who had invested in fixed deposits had to make their investments before certain cut-off dates to be eligible for refunds.
How to get your refunds [Step-By-Step]
Registration on the Portal
Go to the Portal: Log into the CRCS Sahara Refund Portal on https://mocrefund.crcs.gov.in.
Enter Aadhaar and Mobile Details : Input your 12-digit Aadhaar number, registered mobile number, and captcha code.
Verify OTP: On entering your mobile number, an OTP will be sent. Just enter OTP and register to complete the registration process.
Submitting Claim Details
Log In : You need to login with your Aadhaar number and mobile.
Agree to Terms and Conditions : You will have to agree to the terms and conditions to go ahead.
Fill in the Personal and Deposit Details: Add details such as your Aadhaar number, name, date of birth, and bank account information. Fill in the information on your deposit, it may be membership number, receipt number and deposit proof.
Create the claim request to fill out and create the claim request form.
Upload Documents: Attach your latest photo and sign the form, along with a copy of your PAN card (in case the claim amount is more than INR 50,000).
Timeline and Refund Process
Verification and Approval
The claims are verified – usually by appointed auditors and officials. In this way, depositors, who are actual persons, will only receive their refunds. It involves corroborating the documents as well as verifying the identity of the depositor through Aadhaar linkage.
Refund Disbursement
After verification, the refunds are processed and directly deposited in the bank account linked with the depositor’s Aadhaar. The entire process from submission to disbursement is designed to be completed in 45 days(Hindustan Times) (PIB)
Sahara refund portal has so many advantages
Transparency and Efficiency
This will ensure that refund claims are dealt with in a transparent and efficient manner, the sources added. This eliminates scams and fraud, as it digitizes the process, creating the depositors with a safe platform.
Assistance to Small Investors
At the heart of the initiative are small investors who have slogged for years to get their money back. The refund portal is likely to pay investors who had deposited more than Rs 10,000 upfront. This will facilitate millions of small investors in India.
Key Takeaways for Depositors
Important Documents
The depositor should keep the below documents ready for a smooth claim process;
- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card (Compulsory for claims above INR 50, 000)
- Evidences of Payment (Number of Membership & Number of Receipt)
Ensuring Accurate Details
Depositors should avoid any mistakes in their details during the submission of claim forms as errors would slow down the payment process or could be rejected. In case anyone wants to complete the process but the bank account linked to Aadhaar is not operational, you can make it active before submitting the e-Aadhaar linking form.
Challenges and Considerations
Verification Delays
Although the portal is designed to clear POS claims within 45 days some depositors may still encounter delays possibly due to multiple lodgments and discrepancies in documents provided. Be patient and try to follow the instructions as closely as you can in order to avoid these problems.
Scams and Frauds
Deposit should notice the risk of scams and frauds. The official is the only Platform for submission claims. You should also check any third-party claims or assistance offers so as not to be deceived by fraudsters.
Also Read: Understanding Money 6x Investment Trusts
Conclusion
This Refund Portal is Sahara’s latest move to address its depositors ‘problem, yes to a certain extent but in many instances a solution was expected. The portal tends to be a transparent and appealing platform that makes the whole process of retrieving funds more effective, again, without the need for third-party involvement. Make sure you follow the refund process as it unfolds and avail depositors of the official instructions to get their amounts back properly.