Sonar, who had a heart attack in December 2006, says he can’t afford the treatment costs. “We have become slaves of the bank after investing money in it,” he says.

“I deposited my money in the bank with hopes of giving my children a better future. Now Pratibhatai will be President, what about people like me who have been cheated?” asks an angry Mangalabai Sahebrao Choudhari (40), a vegetable seller.

Like Sonar, Choudhari has got her deposit insurance but has lost Rs 17,000. “I also had to face angry relatives, including my niece, who invested money on my advice. How can a widow like me fight these powerful people?” says Choudhari, the banks’ slogan of ‘Woman are power’ (Stree Iti Shakti) mocks her from the wall.

Her husband Sahebrao committed suicide seven years ago.

Vasudeo Ramdas Phale (55), who works in a general store, is yet to receive Rs 63,000 from the bank: “We invested in the bank as it was floated by Tai (Patil). I invested all my savings but now I had to even borrow money from others to marry off two daughters.”

Nana Patil (45), a grocery shop owner, has lost Rs 12,000. “The life of the ordinary depositor has collapsed after the bank was closed down. We are happy that a person from Maharashtra will be President but what about people who lost money in the bank?”

When asked about these complaints, Pratibha Patil’s elder brother Dilipsingh Patil, who was also the bank’s legal advisor, said that the long process of liquidation was responsible for the delay in payment.

... contd.