Ranchi, June 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again targeted the Jharkhand government over the treasury scam. During a press conference at the party’s state office, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdev alleged that the state government has failed to provide essential documents to the Accountant General (AG), who is conducting a special audit of the scam. This lack of cooperation is hindering the investigation process.
Shahdev stated that after the scam came to light, the government hesitated to take action for an extended period. Only after mounting pressure did they form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). He claimed that the treasury officials and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) involved in the alleged irregularities are still in their positions.
According to Shahdev, the state government sent a recommendation to the AG for a special audit on April 17 regarding the alleged scam. The AG requested relevant documents the same week, but over a month later, the government has yet to provide the necessary paperwork. As a result, the special audit has not commenced.
The BJP spokesperson accused the government of employing a strategy to delay and evade the issue, aiming to suppress the entire matter. He also questioned the effectiveness of the SIT, noting that the investigation team led by the finance department and the product secretary has only visited Bokaro district so far. Despite two months passing, no report has been submitted to the government.
Initially, the investigation was recommended for five districts, including Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Ramgarh, and Deoghar, but the investigation team has not yet reached other districts.
Shahdev expressed concern over the slow pace of the investigation, warning that if this continues, it could take years to complete. He referenced the fodder scam, cautioning that failure to act promptly and effectively in such cases could lead to serious consequences. He urged the government to set a timeline for the SIT investigation and expedite the process.
He concluded by stating that if the state government cannot conduct an effective investigation, the entire matter should be handed over to a central agency.
Leave a Comment