AGARTALA, October 14 (TIWN): On last May 19, the then Finance Minister Badal Choudhury had advised that action should be taken in regard to misappropriation of public exchequer in the Bishalgarh Rural Development (RD) block and within next 4 days the minister has been axed, stated Leader of Opposition Sudip Roy Barman, today, whiles speaking in a press meet at Congress Bhavan.

According to the Right to Information (RTI) disclosure made by the Leader of Opposition (LoP), on last May 19, 2014 the then Finance MInister and Chief Secretary approved 2 points (contained in the RTI and which established the scam putting facts and figures and sought action against the involved government staff i.e. Programme Officer or the BDO) apart from issuing an order to file FIR within next seven days. But instead of taking any action against the accused, the minister concerned was removed from the finance portfolio and assigned the health department.

“Who can overrule the decision and direction of Finance Minister and Chief Secretary?” raising this question the Oposition Leader, today has expressed his shock as why the reports of Finance Minister and Chief Secretary (incorporating evidential documents of the Director of Audit) were lying for four months. Even inspite of informing the appropriate authority no FIR was lodged in the Bishalgarh Police Station. Opposition leader today has demanded that case should be registered under section 120 (b) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for being involved in criminal conspiracy. “We have demanded CBI probe into the Bishalgarh MGNREGA scam because the same would bring the CM within the purview of the investigation”, further added the LoP.

Accusing the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar for the same Mr. Barman said: “The CM has taught a lesson to Badal Choudhury for going against his dear associate Bimal Chakraborty.”  Furthermore, the reason, as cited by the LoP, for giving the finance portfolio, is, as an elected representative of the area Bhanu Lal Saha is also involved in the scam. To add to that, Bimal Chakraborty has been transferred in the ICA (Information and Cultural Affairs) department which looked after by Minister Bhanu Lal Saha.

Meanwhile, the amount misappropriated through corruption at block level may scale new heights as out 52 Gram Panchayets (GP) in Bishalgarh RD block Rs. 17 crore has been traced out, auditing 36 GPs only where more 17 are still to be audited. “A complete ‘eyewash’ has been made by the CM as after even 25 days no arrest has been made”, said Mr. Barman apart from saying that a time of 24 days has been given to Bimal for cleaning up everything Bimal’s house prior  to the recent Police search.  

A drop in the ocean like scam in Bishalgarh, is among number of ongoing scams in the root level administrative set ups of state Tripura because no proper audit is being done due to lack of human resources. And the same is substantiated by 298 vacancies in the Audit Directorate of the sate and no recruitment is in sight, as of now.