Rs 6.47 crore MGNREGA scam unearthed in Tripura

Agartala:South Tripura district court on Saturday sent a technical assistant of state Rural Development department to three days judicial custody allegedly for siphoning of Rs 6.47 lakh MGNREGA fund in Satchand block of Sabroom.
Police said that the accused was identified as Arjun Das.
He was arrested last night after an FIR lodged by Block Development Officer (BDO) Goutam Choudhury of Satchand block against Arjun at Manu Bazaar Police Station on the charge of embezzlement of MGNREGA fund.
Mr Choudhury however, alleged that Arjun had siphoned a total of Rs 6,47,345, which was sanctioned for asset creation under MGNREGA Scheme in last financial year.
During special audit, it was found that Arjun had transferred the entire money to his personal bank accounts and his wife Ruby Srivastava’s account.
According to report, initially it was tried to realise the money from the accused but he denied to the proposal. The accused also threatened to reveal other corruption in the block to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore found in the audit if administration pressurises him.
But finally, when the issue come into surface and opposition Congress and BJP raised voice, BDO lodged an FIR, said an official of state Rural Development department.
The officials also pointed out massive financial corruption in MGNREGA fund in past three financial years were identified in 27 rural development blocks so far. In all the cases, money was paid against the work orders without execution of the work, multiple payments against single work and long unadjusted amount had received by the implementing officials.
‘We have received the audit reports from the block and sent for verification to the concern district magistrates and as soon as we get confirmation of corruption FIR are being lodged,’ said Rural Development Minister Naresh Jamatia said today.
He also said that with the direction of the court their accounts were freezed as well.
Meanwhile, Congress alleged that Rs 14.39 crore corruption of MGNREGA fund in Rupaicherri RD Block of Gomuti district and Rs 76.79 crore in Pacherthal RD Block in Unokoti district in past two years was revealed in special audit but no action has yet been taken.
Earlier, 10 accused including a senior Tripura Civil Service (TCS) officer and younger brother of CPI-M youth wing Chief Bimal Chakraborty were arrested and now under custodial trial for corruption of Rs 50 crore of MGNREGA fund in Bishalgarh in West Tripura.
However, another prime accused a lady engineer Mita Malakar is still absconding.
Congress moved to High Court seeking CBI probe into the corruption of MGNREGA fund in the blocks of Tripura.
Though high court yet to decide the case, asked police to arrest all the accused before next hearing of the case. (UNI)