7 More Cops Suspended for Failure to Nab Tripura’s ‘Wanted’ Former PWD Minister

Agartala, October 19, 2019:

Seven more police personnel have been suspended for their failure to nab the absconding ‘wanted’ Former PWD Minister and MLA, Badal Choudhury, for his alleged involvement in an Rs. 600 Cr PWD scam.

It may be mentioned here that search operation continues in hunt of Former PWD Minister Badal Choudhury, who has been absconding since last Sunday.

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Choudhury’s bail petition was also rejected in the District Court on October 16 and his bail-petition is now pending in the High Court, to be heard on October 21.

Last night, the state administration suspended seven more police personnel. As of now, eight policemen have been suspended in this case.

Yesterday, Officer-in-charge of West Agartala Police station, Deba Prasad Roy was suspended for 'poor performance'. Sub-inspector, Pradeep Acharjee who was Choudhury's security officer, was also suspended.

Three constables, who were in the security detail of Choudhury, was also suspended due to "negligence of duty". The suspended constables are Ranjit Debbarma, Shyamal Debbarma, and Kishore Routh.

Constable Amar Krishna Sarkar and Amal Biswas, who was engaged as the PSOs of former Minister Badal Choudhury, were also suspended last night.

On Friday evening, ten IPS officers of the state led by DGP A K Shukla met CM Biplab Kumar Deb and urged him to withdraw the suspension and removal order from their colleagues Ajit Pratap Singh and Arindam Nath.

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According to sources, however, the Chief Minister did not give any assurances, and he does not want to compromise.

It is notable that, on October 13, the vigilance department lodged an FIR against Badal Choudhury, Sunil Bhowmik and Yash Pal Singh.

The case was registered due to an alleged Rs 600 crore PWD scam. The FIR was filed after gathering observations from the PWD and a vigilance inquiry on this issue. The case registered under the section of 409, 418, 420, 201, 120B IPC and 13 PC against the trio.

On that night Sunil Bhowmik was arrested. But police did not nab Badal Chudhury after several raids in different places across the state. On Monday, Badal Choudhury got interim bail from the court.

On Friday, the lawyer of Badal Choudhury appealed to Tripura High Court for the bail of the former minister. The Court granted the case and will hear it on 21 October.

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