AGARTALA, April 10 (TIWN): On yet another major embarrassment for the Left front govt. here in Tripura amidst the rose valley ponzi scam, an FIR has been lodged against at least 17 officers of the National Health Mission on charge of major embezzlement of money for the past three years at Unakoti district under North Tripura. The state government had received complaints of misappropriation of fund to the tune of Rs 24.63 crores from Congress legislator and incumbent Tripura Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha during the year 2014, following which the Tripura government has directed State Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM) to verify records in view of the alleged embezzlement of funds in the Unakoti district of North Tripura.An internal audit has revealed misappropriation of NHM funds to the tune of Rs 24.63 crores in the district over a period of seven years till 2013.

“When a police officer who refuse to receive FIR and again he is directed to investigate matter by his higher authority, what can it prove?” questioned Pradesh Congress Chief Birajit Sinha  today piling another heat to the recently exposed scam under National Health Mission (NHM) at Unakoti District.

Talking to TIWN on Thursday evening Congress Chief Birajit Sinha piling heat to the investigation procedure of the NHM scam, alleged that it becomes crystal clear that there would be no further development in the case as the investigation is headed by that police officer who once refused to receive FIR against the NHM scam.

“The investigation was supposed to be conducted by other district Police officers to bring out a development to the scam issue,” Sinha demanded. Sinha alleged that the adjacent of the money shown to the Mission Director is less, whereas the figure might have crossed more than Rs. 30 crore.

Besides, talking to TIWN  Additional Superintendent of Police (Unakoti) Nabadip Jamatia said that today they were supposed to examine the complainant of the Mission Director Dr. Sandeep Mahatme, but they were unable to reach him as he were found busy in meeting with the Health Minister Badal Chowdhury.

Senior Congress leader Birajit Sinha, who earlier filed an FIR with police about the siphoning of NHM funds, said his party would launch a state-wide movement unless proper inquiry was not done.

However it is to be mentioned here that during the year 2014, the health and family welfare department has asked NHM state project director Dr Sandeep Mahatme to visit Unakoti district headquarters, Kailashahar, to check the records for the amounts sanctioned under the NHM.

The department earlier sacked Accountant of the NHM mission in north Tripura in connection with the scam, while most of the accused have gone into hiding as police enquiry and departmental proceedings are underway.

Kailashahar CMO Office. TIWN Pic