UDAIPUR, October 27 (TIWN): In the ongoing 'Statewide Scam Festival', Udaipur Municipal Council (UMC) made its entry with the looting of Rs 1.27 crore. In the Audit Report prepared in August 2014, Auditor, Directorate of Audit said," Scrutiny of the Budget Control Register, Cash Book and other connected records for the period from April 2012 to March 2014 it revealed that total amount of Rs 33,48,408/- advanced to 2(two) implementing officers during April 2013 to March 2014 for different execution of construction works under Share of Taxes(SOT), Tripura Urban Employment Programme(TUEP),13th Finance Commission, Revenue IHSDPSW&SE etc. remained unadhusted till date of AuditAugust 2014). " Not surprisingly after the Audit Report got leaked, a section of Udaipur Municipal Council are now busy to make fake adjustments in the darkness of night. An employee told TIWN," On 22nd October when the admintsrative officials were busy in Diwali Mela preparations, UMC Chairperson Manika Das, Vice Chairperson Ranjan Krishna Das, former Chairperson Nishikanta Das, Executive Officer N R Das and Jr Engineer Pradip Pal spent up to 9pm night in a closed door meeting making fake signatures to show fake adjustments.

However, they were able to make fake adjustments up to Rs 25 lakh. Majority of this looted fund went to  heavyweight MLA of Udaipur, Madhab Saha. And now everything is being done very secretly and under the MLA's instruction from time to time."

Udaipur District Congress will gherao UMC Chairperson and Executive Officer N R Das at 11.30am today. MLA Pranajit Singha Roy will lead this programme. Speaking to TIWN on Sunday night General Secretary of Udaipur District Congress Tridib Kanti Das said," We will definitely demand immediate arrest of Jr Engineer Pradip Pal and other who are involved in the scam. During the last 20 years more than 20 crore rupees were stolen by a section of employees and some top level CPI(M) leaders in Udaipur. We demand that only Central Audit team can bring out such organized and huge scam."

        In its report Auditor, Directorate of Audit categorically said that Rs 56,57,143/- is retained by Junior Engineer Pradip Pal and Rs 70,78,625/- is retained with N B Institute for Rural Technology Agt( the two Implementing Officer). The Auditor also said in his report," It was not clear to audit that in absence of adjustments from the implementing officers how Chief Executive Officer Udaipur Municipal Council  could satitisfied himself about the proper utilization of the advances for the purposes for which the same was provided." Though the copy of the Audit Report was sent to the Chief Executive Officer, Udaipur Municipal Council N R Das in the month of August, he took no step against the accused. It is when the report got leaked N R Das issued a letter to Pradip Pal , Junior Engineer of UMC vide No.F.2(6)/ACCTS/UMC/UDP/2014/4638-640 dated 2/10/2014 stating ," ..you are requested to submit completion report and adjustment of works within 7 days on receipt of this letter which works has been completed. ... ... ... Otherwise disciplinary action to be taken against you."

      A top level CPI(M) leader told TIWN over phone," Till date no adjustment was submitted by Pradip Pal and still no disciplinary aviation is yet to be take. And what action has been taken against N B INSTITUTE of Rural Technology , Agartala is yet to be known. Actually the lions share of this amount was looted by a heavy weight MLA and every body knows this. But no one raises any voice against this MLA because shifting his gear he has joined the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's lobby of late."

The leader also said ," On the early morning of 22nd October the MLA was informed by a state committee leader from Agartala that the Audit report has been leaked and immediately the MLA called Vice Chairman Ranjan Krishna Das in his home (at around 5.45pm) and instructed him to ask all officials to prepare adjustment for  this. Accordingly Ranjan Krishna Das called former Chairperson Nishikanta Das and Jr Pradip Pal and Chief Executive Officer N R Das to come to office before 10am. From 10am they along with Chairperson Manila Das and Ranjan Krishna Das entered in a room and locked the door from inside. Up to 9.30pm they were inside the room making some fake adjustments. However, they could make adjustment upto Rs 25 lakh."

       From the Audit Report it is also clear that the amount was looted from 24/07/2013 to 26/03/2014 ( all by Jr Engineer Pradip Pal) through cheques withdrwal from State Bank of India, Tripura State Cooperative Bank Limited Udaipur Branch. On the other hand Rs 5,25,000/- was looted in the name of  N B Institute for Rural Technology, Agt(Line Deptt) on 09/04/2013 from United Bank of India and Rs 65,53,625/- from UCO bank on 18/11/2013 again in the name of N B Institute of Rural Technology , Agt(Line Deptt).