Darjeeling, April 24: Probably for the first time since the issue was raised, the GNLF today publicly admitted to a multi-crore scam in the DGHC?s primary education department.

The party, however, maintained that none of the former DGHC councillors was involved in it.

?It is true that funds meant for the schools did not reach their destination. In fact, I was the first to inform branch leaders about the entire episode. We also approached our leader Subash Ghisingh who then asked the principal secretary to conduct an inquiry. The secretary has already ordered a departmental probe into the matter,? said A.R. Dewan, who was councillor-in-charge of the primary education department at that time.

It was The Telegraph that had first reported about the embezzlement of funds meant for the implementation of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan in various schools across the hills.

The Opposition here was quick to latch on to the issue and demand an investigation into the scam.

The council had released a sum of Rs 4.85 lakh each to 102 primary schools and another Rs 1.8 lakh to about 23 other primary schools.

The authorities of the schools, however, denied receiving any money. The total amount thus missing would touch Rs 8 crore.

?Let it be clear to the Opposition that no GNLF leader is involved in the scam. Once the departmental inquiry is over we might even call in the CBI to investigate. We are not worried about the Opposition allegations as we are not involved. In fact PDF supporters, who are shouting themselves hoarse over the issue, might be involved in the funds scam,? Rai said while addressing a public meeting in Darjeeling today.

?If I am proven guilty, I will surrender myself. We have already identified the person who had signed the cheques to withdraw the amount,? Rai claimed.

This is the first time that the GNLF, which is at the helm of affairs in the council, has publicly admitted the existence of the scam and at the same time washed its hand off it.

The GNLF requested the people not to get carried away by the Opposition?s allegations and asked them to react only after knowing the truth. ?People must guard against propaganda,? said Rai.

The Primary Teachers? Organisation ? a GNLF-affiliate ? which had been most vocal about the scam, also gave a clean chit to the GNLF leaders. ?We too demand that the truth be known and we also have found out that the GNLF leaders are not involved in it any way,? said K.B. Hingmang, general secretary of the teachers? organisation.