Mitali Roy, the Trinamul MLA of Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district, has been accused of taking money from job aspirants after promising them jobs in at least two state government departments.

The aspirants have sent written complaints to K.K. Kalyani, the Jalpaiguri district Trinamul president, alleging that the MLA had taken Rs 83 lakh from 13 of them in 2018.

Roy brushed aside the charges and alleged that some people were trying to tarnish her image ahead of the polls.

According to sources, in October 2018, Roy allegedly took money from candidates after assuring them of jobs as primary teachers in the education department and with the water resources department.

“The candidates alleged that they were taken to Calcutta for interviews and even handed appointment letters. In due course, they realised the appointments were fake. Since then, they have been demanding that the MLA return their money,” said a source.

With the job aspirants exerting pressure on Roy, one of her relatives reportedly took up the onus to return the money last year, said a source. “This relative issued cheques to the aspirants but they bounced. The aggrieved persons then brought the matter to the notice of the district Trinamul leadership,” the source added.

The MLA stoutly denied the charges as a “conspiracy”.

“It is nothing but a conspiracy to malign my image and that of my party ahead of the elections. If I had taken money from them, why were they silent so far (since 2018)? Why have the allegations come up only now?” Roy said, referring to the timing of the charges coinciding with the polls.

District Trinamul president Kalyani was brief in his reactions. “I need to check whether any such complaint has reached my office. Also, if anything happened, the state leadership will have to look into the matter. The district committee cannot make any move against any MLA of the party,” he said.