AGARTALA, October 15 (TIWN): TRIPURAINFOWAY was the first to publish news a month and half back saying ," Within seven days of the submission of Internal Audit Report ( IAR) in the ongoing MGNREGA scam to the Office of the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and to Chief Secretary S K Panda, Cabinet was reshuffled and Finance Ministry was snatched away from Badal Chowdhury by the so called 'Mr Clean' Chief Minister Manik Sarkar." After publication of this news, a week later it was officially proved correct as a top level Memarmath lobby leaked the IAR to media. A top level CPI(M) leader told TIWN," DYFI State Secretary Amal Chakraborty was informed about that IAR by an official close to Chief Minister. And immediately Amal Chakraborty and his elder brother Prof Shyamal Chakraborty came to CM's residence for a special meeting. Here both the brothers of Bimal Chakraborty told Chief Minister Manik Sarkar that the IAR was intentionally prepared under Badal Chowdhury's instruction to defame their brother Bimal Chakraborty. And hearing this CM too assured them that no action would be taken by the police to harras Bimal.

The the outcome of that special meeting is that the IAR was submitted on 19th May and on 23rd May Cabinet was reshuffled and Badal Chowdhury was removed from Finance Ministry and Bhanu Lal Saha, who too was suspected to be involved in MGNREGA scam in Bishalgarh Block, has been given the Charge of Finance Department." 

This is no surprise that the attempt was made with a pure intention to protect the corrupted BDO Bimal Chakraborty,  probably the most trusted TCS officer of Manik Sarkar.

In Para 8,9 and 10 of that IAR Director, Audit said the following:-

1) Excess payment of labour wages to the tune of Rs 1.95lakh. Preliminary Observation Statement-8

2) Incomplete adjustment of Rs 49.30lakh under MGNREGA. Preliminary Observation Statement 9

3) Unauthorized expenditure to the tune of Rs 1.16lakh . Preliminary Observation Report-10

    In conclusion Director, Audit also gave a special note saying," The irregularities mentioned in SL No-1,2 and 6 are very serious nature involving Rs 57.94lakh(Rs 21.31lakh+Rs 29.66lakh+Rs6.07lakh) and it is proposed that the responsibility may be fixed and recovered the missapropriated amount from the concerned staff." The said report was sent to the Ministry of Finance on 19/05/2014  and on the same date Ministry of Finance sent it to the Chief Secretary S K Panda. Accordingly Chief Secretary S K Panda too wrote back to the Ministry of Finance ," This is a serious matter. The dept may be advised to lodge FIR for the breach of that initiate proceedings for recovery of the loss caused to Givt against concerned Govt staff.

     Internal Audit of the remaining GP/UCS may be taken."

    Meanwhile Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury sent the entire IAR to Chief Minister's Office as well as Chief Secretary's Office on 19/05/2014 vide No.F.2632/Min/Fin/2014 giving a special Note-4 saying ," Note no 2 & 3 is approved . An FIR should be lodged against the involved Govt staff i.e. Programme Officer(BDO) and other implementing officers of Laxmibill Gram Panchayat under Bishakgarh R D Block within 7 days by the R D Deott for misappropriation of Rs 57.04lakhs(SL 1,2&6in note no-2) of public exchequer/Govt fund" . Many say from here the entire matter took a new turn.

     A section of local as well as national media often highlights as the ' Poorest, Honest and Transparent' Chief Minister in the country. But why is that section of local and national media now silent about Manik Sarkar's role on this issue? Why CBI investigation is not ordered in all these scams? Why police is still playing a ' Fabricated Drama' produced by the top heads of Left Govt? Is it the sign of a ' Transparent Govt'? According to TIWN Melarmath sources," Manik Sarkar is known for his excessive affection towards the specially favoured Chakraboty brothers. And now even the grassroot party members realize that simply to save Bimal Chakraborty, Manik Sarkar has removed Badal Chowdhury from Finance Ministry. Even in the recently concluded state committee meeting of CPI(M) a section of leaders clearly revealed that CBI investigation must be ordered in MGNREGA scam. But as usual Manik Sarkar and his associates remained silent on such a crucial matter."

      The senior CPIM leader also said that Manik Sarkar could possibly get the pulse of the bulk of CPI(M) leadership that even his over all supremacy in the state unit is under question mark. He said," If now local and national media gets proactive in highlighting this episode , the image of this Left Front Govt will face a severe blow and the 'Mr Clean' face of Manik Sarkar too will be exposed and if this happens, it will be a major crisis for CPI(M) Central leadership too as Tripura is the only place where the candle of CPI(M) is still active; though gradually dimming."  Again the common mass too now feel that the so called lectures often given by Manik Sarkar on moral values, honesty and clean image simply bear the hollownes of his pride - otherwise Bimal Chalraborty would have been behind bars long back.

 Documents signed by Finance MInister Badal Chaoudhury and Chief Secretary S.K.Panda recommending action against Bimal Chakraborty