**Executive Summary**
This document is the official response from the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, to Unstarred Question No. 439 regarding the Sahara Refund Portal. It confirms the launch of the portal for Sahara Group investors and addresses related concerns about technical issues and support centers, as well as disbursement. The answer references an order from the Supreme Court from March 29, 2023, and mentions a cut-off date of 25.11.2023 for details regarding applications received and payments made.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Supreme Court Order:**
* The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of Rs. 5000 Crores from the "Sahara-SEBI Refund Account" to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies for disbursement to genuine Sahara Group depositors.
* Disbursement is to be done in a transparent manner after proper identification, submission of proof of deposits and claims, and direct deposit into bank accounts.
* The disbursement is supervised by Justice R. Subhash Reddy with the assistance of Shri Gaurav Agarwal.
* **CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal:**
* An online portal (https://mocrefund.crcs.gov.in) was launched on 18.07.2023 for submission of claims.
* The portal is for depositors of four Multi-State Cooperative Societies of Sahara Group: Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., Saharayn Universal Multipurpose Society Ltd., Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., and Stars Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd.
* The disbursement process is entirely digital and paperless.
* **Application Processing and Payments:**
* Applications received on the portal are processed transparently after proper identification and verification of deposits.
* Currently, payment up to Rs. 50,000 is disbursed to genuine depositors against verified claims through Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts.
* **Technical Glitches and Support:**
* There are no technical glitches.
* Any deficiency found in applications is communicated for re-submission through the "Re-submission portal" launched on 15.11.2023.
* The functioning of the portal is monitored regularly, and any technical issues are addressed immediately.
* There are no plans to set up help centers at the state or district level.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact: Investors/Depositors of Sahara Group Cooperative Societies**
* **Impact:**
* Eligible investors can claim refunds for their legitimate deposits in four specified Sahara Group cooperative societies.
* A transparent and digital process is in place for application, verification, and direct disbursement.
* **Action Required:**
* Submit claims through the CRCS-Sahara Refund Portal with necessary proofs.
* Address any deficiencies reported in the application and resubmit.
* Ensure their bank accounts are seeded with Aadhaar for receiving payments.
**Impact: Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for disbursing Rs. 5000 Crores to the legitimate dues of the depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies.
* **Action Required:**
* Work out the manner and modalities for making the payment in consultation with Justice R. Subhash Reddy.
**Impact: Justice R. Subhash Reddy and Shri Gaurav Agarwal**
* **Impact:**
* Supervision and monitoring of the entire disbursement process.
* **Action Required:**
* Ensure the integrity and transparency of the refund process.
Key Entities Referenced
Sahara Refund Portal: Online portal launched for processing refund claims of depositors in Sahara Group's cooperative societies.
Ministry of Cooperation: The ministry responsible for initiating the Interlocutory Application in WP(C) No. 191/2022 and overseeing the Sahara Refund Portal.
Supreme Court: Ordered the transfer of funds for disbursement to depositors of Sahara Group's cooperative societies via WP(C) No. 191/2022.
Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies: The entity responsible for disbursing funds to depositors of Sahara Group's cooperative societies, as per the Supreme Court's order.
Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies: The group of cooperative societies whose depositors are eligible for refunds through the Sahara Refund Portal.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 439
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2025
Sahara Refund Portal
439 # Shri Chintamani Maharaj:
Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has launched the sahara refund portal for the investors of Sahara
Group;
(b) if so, the details of the applications received and payments sanctioned so far, State-wise;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to resolve the technical glitches coming in the Sahara
refund portal with a view to ensure convenience for the investors from rural and remote areas
in applying for refund; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to set up help centres at State level or district level, if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a) to (c): In an Interlocutory Application filed by the Ministry of Cooperation in WP (C)
No.191/2022 (Pinak Pani Mohanty vs UoI & ors.), the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 29.03.2023
inter alia ordered that:
“(i) Out of the total amount of Rs. 24,979.67 Crores lying in the “Sahara-SEBI Refund
Account”, Rs. 5000 Crores be transferred to the Central Registrar of Cooperative
Societies, who, in turn, shall disburse the same against the legitimate dues of the
depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies, which shall be paid to the
genuine depositors in the most transparent manner and on proper identification and on
submitting proof of their deposits and proof of their claims and to be deposited in their
respective bank accounts directly.
(ii) The disbursement shall be supervised and monitored by Justice R. Subhash Reddy,
Former Judge of this Court with the able assistance of Shri Gaurav Agarwal, learnedAdvocate, who is appointed as Amicus Curiae to assist Justice R. Subhash Reddy as well
as the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies in disbursing the amount to the genuine
depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies. The manner and modalities for
making the payment is to be worked out by the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies
in consultation with Justice R. Subhash Reddy, Former Judge of this Court and Shri
Gaurav Agarwal, learned Advocate.”
In compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Order dated 29.03.2023, an Online
Portal “CRCS-Sahara refund portal” https://mocrefund.crcs.gov.in has been launched on
18.07.2023 for submission of claims by the genuine depositors of four Multi-State Cooperative
Societies of Sahara Group, namely; Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Ltd., Lucknow,
Saharayn Universal Multipurpose Society Ltd., Bhopal, Humara India Credit Cooperative
Society Ltd., Kolkata and Stars Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd., Hyderabad for refund
of their legitimate deposits. Entire process of disbursement is digital and paperless and is being
carried out under the supervision and monitoring of Justice R. Subhash Reddy, Former Judge
of Hon’ble Supreme Court with the assistance of Shri Gaurav Agrawal, Amicus Curiae.
Applications received on the Portal are processed in transparent manner, on proper
identification and on submitting proof of their identity and deposits. Presently, payment only
upto Rs.50,000/- is disbursed to each genuine depositor of the Sahara Group of Cooperative
Societies against verified claims through Aadhaar seeded Bank account.
Further, in case of any deficiency found in the application of the depositor on the portal,
deficiencies are being conveyed to them for re-submission of their application through the “Re-
submission portal” already launched on 15.11.2023. The Ministry is taking all possible steps
for payment to the genuine depositors of the Sahara Group of Cooperative Societies. The
details of the State-wise applications received and payment made as on 25.11.2025 is at
Annexure.
Presently, there is no technical glitch in the “Sahara Refund Portal”. The functioning
of the Sahara Refund Portal is being monitored on regular basis. Technical glitch, if any, is
addressed at the same time by the technical team with a view to ensure convenience for the
investors from rural and remote areas in applying for refund.
(d) No, Sir.
*****