A Siliguri court in north Bengal on Thursday sent former Malda District Magistrate (DM) Godala Kiran Kumar to four days of custody of the State’s Criminal Investigation Department.
Mr Kumar, an IAS officer of 2005 batch, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with allegations of financial irregularities under the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA). The arrest, however, has provided an opportunity for the Opposition to target the Chief Minister.
Siliguri Police Commissioner K Jayaraman arrested Mr Kumar in November 2013 on similar charges. The State government, however, did not approve of the arrest. Mr Kumar was granted bail the next day and Mr Jayaraman was sent on compulsory waiting.
“The arrest is a loss of face for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She should seek an apology from the people of the State for having sent Mr Jayaraman on compulsory waiting, who eventually proved to be an honest officer who did his duties by arresting the DM,” senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation said. Mr Jayaraman's punishment, however, was revoked six months after he was sent to compulsory waiting. Later he was appointed as the Special Inspector General (IG) and DIG in charge of training.
Godala Kiran Kumar who functioned as the CEO of SJDA was arrested on the basis of a police complaint lodged by Sharad Dwivedi, who succeeded him as the SJDA CEO in May 2013. Nine FIRs have been registered in connection with financial irregularities amounting to Rs 200 crore under the SJDA.
According to the investigators, Mr Kumar is accused of financial irregularities over installation of an electric furnace at a crematorium at Maynagudi in Jalpaigudi district.
“Mr Kumar has been remanded in CID custody so that the money which was siphoned can be recovered,” said Dinanath Mohanta, assistant public prosecutor at Siliguri Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.
“The money siphoned off has to be recovered,” says assistant public prosecutor
The arrest provides an opportunity for the Opposition to target the Chief Minister
