Agartala: Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee President Birajit Sinha threatened to move High Court against Minister for Labour of Biplab Kumar Deb government Bhagaban Das accusing his involvement of siphoning off a public fund of Rs 58 Lakh meant for tea workers from a chit fund account.
Addressing media on Saturday Sinha alleged based on the letter of Das the then additional district magistrate and collector (ADM) of Unokoti district Soumitra Chakma had requested the bank to allow transaction of the sealed account of a Non Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
Soon after getting access to the account, entire Rs 58 Lakh deposited by the district administration as compensation for destroying mature tea plants was withdrawn and became untraceable, Sinha said alleging, “Minister Das, ADM and one Musabbar Ali who got power of attorney for managing Natingcherra tea estate after it’s owner landed in a jail of Bihar in connection with NBFC case were involved in the entire deal.”
Although based on the complaint, the state government suspended ADM Chakma from the service, no action against the minister Das by whose letter the corruption paved the way of success, Sinha stated.
He stated a large amount of land of Natingcherra tea estate was acquired by the government for expansion of roads between Kailashahar to Kumarghat in Unokoti district for which amount was sanctioned as compensation for mature tea plants.
“We shall file a public interest litigation with the High Court of Tripura seeking an in-depth inquiry into the matter and book all the accused persons,” Sinha added.
The congress also demanded a special package of Rs 500 Cr to restore the Tripura tea industry, increase in daily wages of the workers to Rs 212 and improvement of amenities and facilities for the tea workers.
