1 mukhiya arrested, properties of other attached in Potka
WITH THE LATEST ARREST, TWO OF THE FIVE MUKHIYAS ACCUSED IN THE SCAM HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO BOOK SO FAR
JAMSHEDPUR: Police on Thursday arrested a mukhiya (village head) among the five mukhiyas accused in Rs 1.55 crore toilet scam here in Potka Block under East Singhbhum district. With this, two of the five mukhiyas accused in the scam have been arrested.
A team led by Kowal police station (PS) officer-in-charge (OC) Shatrughan Paswan arrested Sushil Sardar, mukhiya of Jamuda panchayat for defalcating government fund worth Rs 21.36 lakh out of Rs 36.96 lakh released for the construction of 308 toilets. “We arrested Jamuda mukhiya Sushil Sardar from his house and have sent him to jail today,” Paswan told HT.
He added that raids were on to arrest Kowali mukhya Suchitra Sardar.
Potka police had arrested Manpur panchayat mukhiya Tarini Sen Singh on Wednesday on charges of defalcating Rs 33.96 lakh out of Rs 62.40 lakh granted for 520 toilets.
Further, police on Thursday also attached the properties of Sankarda mukhiya , Kapra Hansda, who is also a co-accused in the scam. He has been absconding since October last year. He is accused of defalcating government fund worth Rs 31.80 lakh out of Rs 52.32 lakh granted for constructing 436 toilets.
Kowali mukhiya Suchitra Sardar, who is also absconding, is accused of not submitting utility certificate for Rs 41.40 lakh against fund of Rs 63.60 lakh given to her for construction of 530 toilets. Kuldiha mukhiya Lakashmicharan Singh is accused of not submitting utility certificate for Rs 26.04 lakh against fund of Rs 36.96 lakh given for constructing 308 toilets.
It may be noted here that Jamshedpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anoop Birthare had held a meeting with Potka police on Tuesday evening and directed them to ensure arresting 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 Indian Penal Code (IPC) for defalcation of government fund worth Rs 1.55 crore against five mukhiyas in three different police stations of the district in October.
After FIRs were lodged against the mukhiyas, East Singhbhum deputy development commissioner (DDC) had ordered seizure of financial and other powers of five mukhiyas of Manpur, Kowali, Shankarda, Jamda and Kuldiha panchayats under Potka Block of the district in December last year.