AGARTALA, October 14 (TIWN): Clean Manik is for the first time found indulging corruption in black and white to retain in power at the cost of common people's money.Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Manik Sarkar of his involvement in Rs 16.87 Cr scam in Bishalgarh R D Block. The party demanded CBI probe into the scam.Leader of the opposition Sudip Roybarman in a press conference said that the then finance minister and present health minister Badal Choudhury had recommended lodging of FIR against the accused officials including BDO Bimal Chakraborty, the younger brother of CPI-M youth wings Secretary on May 19 this year based on the audit report.

“When the file was sent to Chief Minister, he reshuffled the cabinet on May 23 and Choudhury has been shifted to health from finance portfolio. Bhanu Lal Saha is given finance who is also elected from Bishalgarh and accused in the scam,” Roybarman alleged.

He has also distributed the entire file noting of Chief Secretary and Finance Minister Choudhury along with the audit observation.

The audit report says altogether 106 officials including BDO are found guilty in the misappropriation of public fund. But the present BDO on September 15 lodged FIR against only 12 including Bimal.

However, police did not take any action based on the FIR, Roybarman stated adding that only when governor intervene, police on Monday after 25 days of FIR raided the houses of the accused and returned with empty hand.

“We have taken up the matter with PMO, concerned ministry in Delhi and Director CBI seeking investigation by CBI or other central government agency but yet to receive any decision. Tomorrow we are going to Delhi to pursue the case,” Roybarman pointed out.

He demanded inclusion of Chief Minister Sarkar and finance minister Saha into the case.

“Manik Sarkar not only reallocated the finance portfolio also kept the file without any action despite recommendation of his senior most cabinet colleagues for past four months and lodge FIR when we share the primary document of corruption of Bishalgarh in media,” he added.  

Congress is also announced to file PIL seeking CBI probe in the scam as soon as high court will open on Oct 27.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Bimal has paid Rs 7.5 lakh to a leftist lawyer to fight his case and 10 others paid Rs 2.5 each to the same lawyer and one paid Rs 1.05 lakh for the case before they were arrested.

Bimal also reported to threatened the party to open up in detail of CPI-M's corruption including the record of manipulation of last assembly election by the party.

"The incidences confirmed that Manik Sarkar himself behind the scam and it needs CBI probe immediately," said BJP president Sudhindra Dasgupta.