AGARTALA, September 27 (TIWN): Possibilities of involvement of senior officials from the state civil service in the massive scam of Rs. 17 crore at Bishalgarh RD Block have surfaced with even stronger evidences, official sources said.A highly placed source in the state administration said that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had specifically asked the then DM and the SDM to personally monitor the development works in Bishalgarh RD block but they did not pay heed on the order.

Despite spending a considerable time, the investigating officials are yet to arrest the FIR-named accused persons including the then Block Development Officer (BDO) of Bishalgarh RD Block Bimal Chakraborty.

According to sources, the incumbent BDO did not maintain a total transparent procedure while lodging FIR against 12 officials including the former BDO.

As per the convention, the compliant should seek written permission from the government before filing FIR against a civil service officer. In fact, FIR has been filed on the basis of internal special audit report which indicated at siphoning off Rs. 17 crore public fund.

Interestingly, the BDO did not lodge any complaint against then District Magistrate (DM), Sipahijala KD Chowdhury and SDM, Bishalgarh Tamal Majumder.

The multi-crore scam could be easily avoided if the then DM and SDM as per the prescribed norms of the government. "As per the government guideline, the DM and the SDM should keep close eye on the functioning of the BDO and they should not be allowed to go unaccountable for anything wrong in the block", said a retired TCS officer.