Tripura: 10 scams which tainted Manik Sarkar’s clean image
AGARTALA: Tripura's Chief Minister Manik Sarkar is popularly known as the poorest Chief Minister in the country. He donates maximum money which he gets as his salary to the party fund leaving only Rs. 5,000 for his own household. A man wearing white kurta pajama with clean and honest ideology – that's the picture instilled in mind of every Tripurite. But his white kurta seems to be maligned with blots due to a series of scams unearthed during his regime.
#1 CHIT FUND SCAM:
Over Rs. 1, 50,000 deposited by customers have been embezzled by different chit fund companies including Rose Valley Group of Companies, Saradha Group of Companies and others. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the Rose Valley Park, set up by the Kolkata-based chit fund company – Rose Valley. Sarkar also attended many functions launched by few of the chit fund companies. Revenue Minister Badal Choudhury admitted that they knew about the chit fund companies since 1998.
#2 BISHALGARH RD BLOCK SCAM:
Incumbent Block Development Officer (BDO) of Bishalgarh Block – Subrata Das lodged FIR with Bishalgarh Police Station against 12 block officials including former BDO – Bimal Chakraborty in connection with the scam. The internal audit report of Bishalgarh RD block stating misappropriation of government funds of Rs. 2, 22, 21,964 without executing works against work orders issued under MG NREGS, PDS and TFC etc. Bimal Chakraborty is also known to be a close aide to the Chief Minister.
#3 NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION SCAM:
Nearly Rs. 30 crores meant for National Health Mission was misappropriated since past eight years. The CMO admitted that no adjustment of Rs. 24 crores was mentioned in the report due to unspecific reasons. The Congress delegation led by Birajit Sinha gheroaed the Chief Medical Officer's office in Kailasahar Sub Division and later on, lodged FIR against four persons including Dr. Dewan with Kailasahar Police Station. One Accounts Manager – Nirmal Chandra Das was suspended and Media Expert – Abhijit Bhowmik was also showcaused for his connection to the scam.
#4 RUPAICHERRI RD BLOCK SCAM:
A total of Rs. 14 crore and 39 lakh was siphoned at Rupaicherri RD Block. The audit report stated that two work orders of Rs. 11.23 lakh and Rs. 18.67 lakh were issued for execution of brick soling work on the same road. As it is not possible to execute same work on the same road which was previously executed, it is suspected that either of the implementing officers had not executed the work and misappropriated Rs. 11.23 lakh or Rs. 18.67 lakh.
#5 PECHARTHAL RD BLOCK SCAM:
A total of Rs. 76 crore and 79 lakh were misappropriated at Pecharthal RD Block since April 1, 2012 till March 31 in 2014. An official report confirmed that works under MGNREGA scheme in the Financial Year 2011-12 and 2012-13 are not completed or executed and no adjustment of a total of Rs. 68.94 lakh was shown in the record.
#6 TEACHERS EMPLOYMENT SCAM:
A total of 10,323 jobs of under graduate, graduate and post graduate teachers' were canceled by the High Court of Tripura in 2014 as the state government had violated norms and procedures of recruitment of 10,323 teachers. The government had appointed 4,617 graduate teachers in March 2010, 1,100 post graduate teachers in August 2010 and 4,606 under-graduate teachers in December 2013.
#7 RASHTRIYA MADHYAMIK SIKSHA ABHIYAN SCAM:
A total of Rs. 5 crore has been embezzled under Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a centrally sponsored scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development. The Tripura School Education Department had suspended three officials for their alleged involvement in the scam. A cashier of the RMSA was also arrested from Kolkata who named the three officials who were involved in the scam.
#8 GINGER SCAM:
Over Rs. 2 crore was embezzled while purchasing and distribution of gingers at Satchad Block in Tripura's South District in 2011.
#9 SPURIOUS DRUG SCAM:
The state government has purchased fake drugs and medicines from Vardhaman Pharmaceuticals, a Himachal Pradesh based company and distributed the same to the government hospitals. In this case, the Congress registered a case against 10 officials including Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty.
#10 MGNREGA SCAM AT SATCHAD BLOCK:
A total of Rs. 6 lakh, 47 thousand, 3 hundred and 45 were embezzled by a technical assistant of Satchad Block in Sabroom falling under South Tripura District. The fund was allocated under MGNREGA outlay.
