AGARTALA. January 14 (TIWN Exclusive): Soon after arrival of former Chief Secretary and present Secretary to the Ministry of Textile Dr S K Panda in Agartala, Manik Sarkar has relieved Sanjoy Kumar Rakesh IAS from the post of Secretary, Rural Development on Tuesday. For immediate arrangement, Sarkar entrusted the responsibility to Ashutosh Jindal who is about to leave Tripura by next week as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Interestingly, Jindal was in Delhi for Election Commission of India meeting when he was assigned additional charge of most controversial and laborious department Rural Development. According to sources, Dr Panda flown down to Agartala hurriedly when he was informed that Mr Rakesh got access to all the documents of Bishalgarh scam files and other files related to misappropriation of MGNREGA fund with due consent from the then Chief Secretary.Moreover, police also found suspicious action and approval of Dr Panda as Chief Secretary in those files, which were later identified as key documents of misappropriation of various public funds, said a senior official of State Audit department.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar became angry with the police when he came to know that his most reliable Dr Panda has brought under scan of police.

Reportedly, Sarkar directed police bosses to look into the investigation report of Bishalgarh block carefully before submitting to High Court; so that Panda’s name should not be there.

After reaching this information to Dr Panda, he arrived in Agartala and reportedly, advised Government to take away Secretaryship of R D Department from S K Rakesh.

Report also said that suddenly from last Thursday all corruption related files had stopped movement to Mr Rakesh.

According to sources, through R D Minister and most loyal member of Manik’s lobby Naresh Jamatia, Mr Rakesh was instructed not to change the existing system of payment and work module of REGA and not to get into the transparency mechanism in electronic fund management system (EFMS) but he refused to do it.

Mr Rakesh made it clear that as per guidelines, he will work and no un-administrative and unwarranted interferences in rural development activities he will entertain and in few cases, Mr Rakesh turned some motivated advices of Mr Naresh Jamatia.

Report also stated that after resuming charge, Mr Rakesh with the approval of present Chief Secretary G.K.Rao, who is recognised as most honest IAS official clearly told all BDOs to not succumb to any political pressure even at the highest level unless rule permits.

“Mr Rakesh also expressed his revelation of Dr Panda’s mischief over massive corruption in RD funds and the way he prevented action against the corrupt officials.

As reward of his honesty, Manik Sarkar relived him from Rural Development reportedly with the advice of Dr Panda,” said officials.

In detail exercise on the documents of Bishalgarh corruption cases, it appears that Dr Panda and Manik Sarkar’s most preferred Jnan Bichitra publication, left identified opportunities intellectuals and lumpants taken away core of rupees from MGNREGA fund during Bimal’s tenure using their rapport with Dr Panda and Sarkar.

Besides, discussing administrative reshuffles to safeguard the corrupt officials of his team worried Panda, yesterday made several teleconference with both political and administrative bosses.

Meanwhile, the detail documents of Panda’s association in corruption in Tripura and all of misdeed are now in PMO.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been also reportedly assured his party leaders in Tripura that the corruption cases of Tripura will be given to CBI for investigation in due course.