Tripura Congress file PIL over multi-crore RD block scam, demands CBI probe

Agencies
Agartala, October 27

The opposition Congress on Monday filed a PIL in the Tripura High Court demanding a CBI probe into the multi-crore Bishalgarh RD block scam unearthed by an internal audit of the state government.
Congress spokesperson Dr Ashok Sinha, the petitioner, said the PIL was filed because “the state police is unlikely to conduct an impartial probe into the scam,” in relation to which one official has been suspended and an FIR lodged against 11 others by incumbent Block Development Officer Subrata Das.The Bishalgarh RD block financial scam has become a major political issue with the opposition parties attacking the Left Front government, which has been in power for more than two decades, over several financial irregularities that has surfaced over the past few months.
Another scam involving the apparent misappropriation of almost Rs 25 crores of NRHM funds over eight years has also resulted in the sacking of at least one official and an investigation by higher officials instituted.
The main accused in the RD block scam, Bimal Chakraborty, has been arrested and is currently in police custody. He was Deputy Director of the state’s Information and Cultural Affairs Department before he was suspended, and was formerly the BDO at Bishalgarh, West Tripura.