Birpara (Alipurduar), July 28: There seems to be nothing wrong with a pradhan of a gram panchayat handing over Rs 5,000 to Raman Kumar Jha in October 2003 under the Indira Awas Yojna. Except that Jha had passed away in March that year.

The incident occurred in Birpara-I Gram Panchayat under Madarihat-Birpara block of Alipurduar subdivision.

The Opposition is now demanding a “long overdue inquiry” into the actions of the CPM pradhan who was involved in disbursing the amount.

Sanjoy Mandol of the CPM is the pradhan of the said Birpara-I gram panchayat.

In 2002, Rs 20,000 was sanctioned under Indira Awas Yojna to Devi Jha of Barobazar Birpara under Birpara-I Gram Panchayat.

Devi Jha received Rs 10,000 in mid-2002. She passed away on November 23 that year. At a meeting of Birpara-I Gram Panchayat it was decided that the remaining Rs10,000 would be paid to her youngest son, Raman Kumar Jha.

In March 2003, Raman was paid Rs 5,000. Raman also expired in July that year in Birpara State General Hospital after battling a prolonged illness.

Records, however, show that the remaining Rs 5,000 was also paid to Raman on October 2003. Since Raman was long dead by that time, the question being raised is where is the money disbursed to the dead man.

Shyamlal Modi a former member of Birpara-I gram panchayat, said: “After the death of Devi Jha, we decided in a meeting that the money due to her (Rs 10,000) would be paid to her youngest son Raman Kumar Jha. Raman was later paid Rs 5,000 in March 2003. Unfortunately, Raman also died on July 6, 2003. It is mystifying how a payment was recorded in his name long after he had died. Where is the money?”

Mithilish Jha, a priest, and Raman’s eldest brother, said: “I have not received the amount in question. I am not interested in my brother’s money since he has passed away and would not have taken it had I been offered the sum.”

The Opposition is now demanding immediate action against Mandol.

“It is unthinkable that money can be issued in the name of a person who is dead. I have complained to the subdivisional officer. There are many irregularities in the gram panchayat. Since no action has been taken, I have lost faith in the administration,” said Prosanto Naha, the leader of the Opposition in the panchayat.