Trinamool MLA unscathed in multi-crore scam, opposition demands CBI probe

SILIGURI/KOLKATA: K Jayaraman has been removed as Siliguri police commissioner. Malda DM Godala Kiran Kumar arrested, bailed out and sent on leave. But Trinamool Congress MLA from Siliguri Rudra Nath Bhattacharya remains untouched, prompting the opposition to demand a CBI inquiry into Rs 200 crore Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) scam.
Bhattacharya continues to be on the SJDA board 10 months after he was sacked as its chairman for alleged involvement in the scam.Evidently, no one thinks he will tamper with evidence. “I am cooperating with the probe and have faced interrogations. But I will not comment on my continuing as SJDA board member because the matter is sub judice,” the Trinamool MLA told TOI.
The Opposition is no mood to buy this explanation. Union minister of state Deepa Das Munshi accused the Mamata Banerjee government of trying to shield those involved in the scam. “The manner in which the Siliguri top cop was removed fuels suspicion that the state is trying to shield someone,” she said, demanding a CBI inquiry although district Congress leader Sankar Malakar is among the accused.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose also demands a CBI probe on the ground that the state was trying to stop the investigation. “The removal of the Siliguri commissioner sends out a message that the state government is trying to stop inquiry,” he said. Even suspended Trinamool MLA Sikha Mitra endorsed the demand. The Opposition also wonders why the public prosecutor remained silent and allowed Kiran Kumar to get bail when the police had arrested him on non-bailable charges.
Jayaraman now finds himself in the same situation as former Kolkata police commissioner R K Pachnanda — both of them were shunted out for doing their duty because they were perceived as a threat to ruling politicians. According to police, Jayaraman gave regular updates to the administration while questioning Kiran Kumar. Sources in the state secretariat said that chief secretary Sanjay Mitra and even chief minister Mamata Banerjee were aware of the progress of investigation — but not the arrest. Mitra thus didn’t dispute the charges against Kumar, he kept himself confined to the procedure of arrest.
The inquiry was initiated by Jayaraman’s predecessor Anand Kumar soon after the scam came to the surface. Investigators found irregularities at the decision making level and during implementation. In the months before Kiran Kumar’s arrest, among those nabbed were two SDJA engineers, a sub-assistant engineer and owners of some construction agencies, raising questions over the role of those who called the shots.
For instance, the work order for earthwork, setting up electric crematoriums and desilting Jorapani river were awarded without competitive bidding. Quotations were accepted without a tender and Kumar, who was SJDA CEO then, cleared payment before the work was completed. “Also, the rates approved for earthwork were way above market rates. SJDA paid Rs 48 crore for three electric crematoriums even when the equipment was not installed,” an investigating officer said.
Later, SJDA chairman, minister Gautam Deb, ordered a Jadavpur University panel to look into the complaints. The panel endorsed the complaint in its report submitted to the government recently. “The Siliguri MLA was very much a part of decision making. But he goes unscathed while the Siliguri top cop was sent on compulsory waiting. This is a multi-crore scam with top political leaders involved,” said former minister and CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya, a former SJDA chairman.