Manik Sarkar whistleblower of PWD scam, claims Ratan

Our Bureau

AGARTALA, October 29, 2019: Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had actually played role of a whistleblower in Rs 640 crore PWD scam probe which indicted several officials and former PWD minister Badal Choudhury, claimed Tripura education minister Ratan Lal Nath on Tuesday.

The disclosure rattled state’s political circles with CPI(M) jumping into a denial mood. “He (Nath) is speaking rubbish and bogus”, said a senior leader of the left party.

But Nath categorically asserted that it was Manik Sarkar who secretly informed state administration about the scam occurred in 2008. He (Sarkar) also wished for detailed investigation in state’s biggest ever financial scam.

“Don’t ask me for details...I will not tell to spoil my source of information”, the minister told newsmen.

Manik Sarkar was chief minister at time of scam, Ratan Lal Nath said adding he (Sarkar) is not speaking up on the issue. He wondered why he was not disclosing how the scam occurred.

Nath said the scam was too heinous that payments worth crores and crores of rupees were paid to construction companies without accomplishment of project works.

The statement snowballed into a major controversy a day before High Court is set to taking up hearing of bail petition of Badal Choudhury who is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Police had shown him arrested in the hospital after the veteran CPI(M) leader’s appearance from hiding and admission in the hospital.