Agartala, Oct. 15: An alleged scam running into Rs 17 crore involving officials implementing rural development schemes in Bishalgarh block of West Tripura has come to light after a secret audit, allegedly unearthed by the Opposition Congress.
PCC president and leader of the Opposition, Sudip Roy Barman, alleged that the ruling Left Front is trying to shield the accused officials. “The file with former finance minister’s order was gathering dust in the office of the chief minister. We managed to get a copy of the special audit and raised the issue. Otherwise, the state government would have hushed it up as all those involved are CPM members,” alleged Roy Barman.
The Telegraph is also in possession of the copy of the secret audit.
Official sources said the scam had occurred in implementation of several state and centrally sponsored rural development schemes and in purchase of materials for Bishalgarh block between 2010 and 2013.
“The financial irregularities came to the notice of a team of officers from the Union rural development ministry and recommendations were made to the state government for scrutinising the financial details,” a source said.
Subsequently, the then chief secretary, S.K. Panda, recommended a special audit covering all 52 gram panchayats and village committees in Bishalgarh block in his note to the state finance department. But then finance minister Badal Chowdhury noted the audit of 52 gram panchayats would take a very long time. Hence, initially only accounts of Purba and Madhya Laxmibil gram panchayats were taken up in April. It was found there were major financial irregularities in the accounts of the two gram panchayats.
On May 19, Chowdhury acted upon the interim report and ordered filing of an FIR against all the accused but within four days, he was shifted from the finance ministry and given charge of the health department.
On October 7, Bishalgarh block development officer Subrata Das filed a FIR with Bishalgarh police station against 11 officers and employees, including his predecessor Bimal Chakraborty but no arrests have been made so far. “We have suspended 12 gram rojgar sevaks and police have conducted raids in houses of several persons including the former BDO,” said Das.
No reaction was available from the CPM on the issue. However, Chowdhury said his removal from the finance ministry had nothing to do with unearthing of the scam. “I had requested the party to relieve me from the finance department on health grounds,” he said.
