Raiganj, Jan. 3: The North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is crying foul over the suit of financial fraud filed against it by a security agency.

The Bengal Security Guard Services (BSGS), a Malda-based security agency, engaged by the NBSTC to take care of security aspects of seven of its depots, alleged that the cheques issued by the transport major to reimburse them for their services, had been dishonoured.

“We received our dues for the month of August, when we were engaged by the NBSTC, as per the contract. But the banks dishonoured seven cheques, amounting to Rs 1.90 lakh, for the months of September to November. We approached the NBSTC authorities and asked them to issue fresh cheques. But they did not even bother to reply. Then we filed a suit on December 30,” said Sunil Das, the managing director of the agency.

He also said that the employees were paid from the agency’s funds for the three months.

“The employees, who were not paid their salaries, would agitate at the depot, tarnishing our reputation,” he said, adding, “we decided teach the NBSTC a lesson by hauling it to court”.

Khudiram Routh, Das’ NBSTC counterpart, however, dismissed the allegations. He said it was the security agency that had cheated them.

“It had been clearly written in the agreement that the agency could only withdraw its services after at least three months notice,” he said.

“The agreement was entered into in August last year and the agency withdrew its services in September without informing us. We had to incur a heavy financial loss on this account. We then decided to withdraw the amount from the banks even after issuing the cheques,” Routh added.

Sameer Bose, West Bengal Security and Co-worksmen Union’s assistant secretary, North Dinajpur district, also accused the transport corporation

“The security staff suffered because of a tussle between the NBSTC and the agency. They were bailed out only because of the agency decision to pay them the salary from its funds.”