AGARTALA, September 11 (TIWN) : After nation wide publication of CM & CS books scam and misappropriation of RMSA funds, Director of School Education is learnt to have asked suspended Deputy Director Ambalika Datta to return to Agartala and to give her statement to police officials regarding huge misappropriation of RMSA funds. A top level official in School Education Department told TIWN on Wednesday night," Though authorities suspended Ambalika Datta, Dy Director(Science Promotion) , RMSA by order No.FORM.13(2-6)SE/GL-1/2013 dated 30th August 2014 after the publication of news about the RMSA scam in TRIPURAINFOWAY.com on 25th August. Later published in Times of India, other National Newspapers , the department especially Principal Secretary K Rajeshwar Rao is under tremendous pressure from his higher ups to subdue the issue at the grassroot level. As such the department is also thinking of a mutual understanding with Ambalika Datta because if Ambalika challenges in the High Court even Education Dept may face hammering from Judiciary.It is interesting to note that Ambalika Datta neither gave any instruction to anyone for procuring these two books.

In Suspension Letter, three reasons stated in which the order of suspension was made. Two out of three two reasons are as follows:

1) Due diligence was not exercised and desired official procedure was not followed while preparing instructions for procurement of books with RMSA funds

2) Leaving the state without prior sanction of leave and handing over the charge of DDO(RMSA) while A.G. audit & C.A.Firm audit ongoing.

    It is interesting to note that Ambalika Datta neither gave any instruction to anyone for procuring these two books written by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and the then Chief Secretary S K Panda. The procurement order was issued by Deputy Secretary Dilip Kumar Debbarma, Deputy Secretary and being a subordinate officer Ambalika cannot instruct D K Debbarma. Again on the second circumstance mentioned in the auapensation order , a top level official told," Ambalika Datta applied for a 45 days leave with Station Leave but the Director P K Chakraborty granted 30 days leave(copy of the sanction order is with Ambalika Datta). Her leave is upto 20th September. But Director has not asked her to face the audit team nor even gave prior information about the said matter. So the question of going outside becomes null and void straightway." Now when everything got leaked and allegations started to raise against Director and Principal Secretary, Director has asked Ambalika to join her duties immediately and to assist the department by giving her statement to police on the ongoing investigation regarding Arnab Chakraborty' s forgery case. A senior lawyer told TIWN,"  School Education Department is now heading towards another humiliation in the hands of High Court if the suspended official challenges her suspensation order."

     Meanwhile it is learnt that during the investigation police found many cheques with fake signatures of officials that were submitted to the Tripura State Cooperative Bank Agartala branch by for withdrawal by Cashier Arnab Chakraborty. TIWN sources add that total value of all these cheques may exceed even two to three crore rupees. More over police also found some adjustment vouchers adjusted against various officials and these too are considered to be fake. The sources further informed that though police is doing investigation, instructions have already been sent to the investigating officials not to reveal anything to media. On Wednesday night S P West Bijoy Nag told TIWN over phone," We have not yet been able to arrest Arnab but I can't say anything more than this right now." But a top level police official confirmed TIWN," We have been strict restrictions not to say anything before the press on this issue. Even the team is given strict instructin from very top corner of the Govt not to discuss about the findings with anybody even within the police department.  Once Arnab is arrested everything will be clear. However, police already asked the School Education Department to make a special audit of all transactions under RMSA made earlier.  

In a new twist BJP state unit too has informed the matter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani and BJP President Amit Shah. The state unit has also requested PMO and HRD offices to make separate investigation as the state unit smells a rat in the entire issue.

     Meanwhile TIWN investigating team got an authentic information that entire book scam started from the table of Principal Secretary's office. Actually soon after getting a letter from Debananda Dam, popularly known for his very good relation with Chief Minister and his family, Dam is the owner of private publisher company Gyan Bichitra, Principal Secretary sent the letter to his lower officials as well to the Director P K Chakraborty giving a note," ... Necessary action be taken...." That note especially when it comes from an officer like him , who is the Principal Secretary of School Education Department as well as Chief Minister, is a clear indication to the department that order of procurement of such books ( written by CM & CS) will have to be given at some point. The letter and the Special(?) note of the Principal Secretary was given to Director, Deputy Secretary D K Debbarma and another employee Jogo Maya Chakma. Naturally Director P K Chakraborty too issued another order to D K Debbarma outlying another interesting comment ," Matter is discussed and issue order...." Only after getting this instruction Deputy Director D K Debbarma was forced to issue the order to procure these two Special (?) Books written by two Very Very Special (?) writers.

On a seperate note, former Chief Secretary Dr. S.K.Panda informed TRIPURAINFOWAY.com via a letter dated 4th Sept  that he was not aware of this decision of issuing a Govt Order on June 2 to promote sale of books written by him & CM by using Central RMSA funds. However many questions remain unanswered like, -  why a private publisher/businessman will invest his own money to publish books written by CM, CS without any return favours ?  How much favour was done to Gyan Bichitra Publisher over the years ? If writers didnt spend any money towards publishing then what is business interest of Publisher ? How a private publisher can influence Education Dept to issue an order like below instructing all Schools to purchase these books from his shop ?

Time of India coverage of this scam :

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Heat-on-Tripura-CM-over-book-sale-row/articleshow/42118552.cms