One of five accused in ₹1.55 cr toilet scam held
JAMSHEDPUR: Police on Wednesday arrested one of the five mukhiyas accused in ₹1.55 crore toilet scam here in Potka Block under East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
Potka police team arrested Manpur panchayat mukhiya Tarini Sen Singh Sardar from his house in Manpur this morning, the police said Wednesday.
“FIRs were lodged against five mukhiyas last year on charges of defalcation of government fund worth ₹1.55 crore and warrants were also used. On a tip-off today, the Potka police arrested one of the accused mukhiya from his house today. We would also opt for attachment of properties of the accused if needed,” said Pitambar Singh Kharwar, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Mosaboni.
Jamshedpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anoop Birthare had held a meeting with Potka police on Tuesday evening and directed them to ensure arrest of mukhiyas accused in toilet scam. Mantosh Kumar Mani, executive engineer, DWSD-Adityapur division, had lodged FIRs under section 420, 406, 409 and 120-B of IPC for defalcation of government fund worth ₹1.55 crore against five Mukhiyas in three different police stations of the district in October.
FIRs against Kowali mukhiya and Jamda mukhiya were lodged in Kowali police station (PS) while FIRs were lodged against mukhiyas of Manpur and Shankarda in Potka PS and against Kuldiha Mukhiya in Jadugora PS.
As per FIRs, Manpur mukhiya Tarani Sen Singh Sardar is accused of not submitting utility certificate for ₹33.96 lakh against fund worth ₹62.40 lakh given for the construction of 520 toilets. Shankarda mukhiya Kapra Handa is accused of failing to submit utility certificate for ₹31.80 lakh against fund of ₹52.32 lakh given for construction of 436 toilets. Similarly, Kowali mukhiya Suchitra Sardar is accused of not submitting utility certificate for ₹41.40 lakh against fund of ₹63.60 lakh given to her for construction of 530 toilets. Jamda mukhiya Sushil Sardar is accused of failing to submit utility certificate for ₹21.36 lakh against fund of ₹36.96 lakh given for constructing 308 toilets. Kuldiha mukhiya Lakashmicharan Singh and treasurer are accused of not submitting utility certificate for ₹26.04 lakh against fund of ₹36.96 lakh given for constructing 308 toilets.