Tripura Handicraft Scam: BJP Leader Among Four Sentenced in ₹Crores Fraud Case
Agartala: In a major crackdown on corruption, a special CBI court in Agartala has sentenced four individuals, including a BJP mandal leader, a government instructor, and two others, to four to five years of rigorous imprisonment in a case related to the misappropriation of government funds.
The case, which dates back to 2012, involved a fraudulent scheme where funds meant for training bamboo artisans under a central government program were siphoned off without conducting any actual training.
The convicted individuals are:
Sanjay Debnath, a BJP mandal leader and key figure in the NGO Women Development Society.
Kalpana Debnath, president of the Women Development Society.
Kamal Krishna Debnath, an active member and key beneficiary of the NGO.
Achyut Kumar Das, an instructor at the Bamboo & Cane Development Institute, Lichubagan.
The court sentenced Achyut Kumar Das to five years of rigorous imprisonment, as he played a crucial role in issuing fake skill development certificates to artisans who never received training.
The other three accused received four-year jail terms. A total fine of ₹2.05 lakh was also imposed on them.
The Scam: How Government Funds Were Looted
The scam came to light when authorities discovered that a significant amount of funds, allocated for skill development programs for bamboo artisans, had been misused.
The accused issued fake certificates to individuals who never attended any training, while pocketing the funds meant for the program. Investigations revealed a well-planned conspiracy between government officials and NGO members to siphon off government money.
CBI’s Crackdown and Court’s Verdict
The CBI took over the investigation after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced.
The probe exposed the role of the accused in forging documents, fabricating attendance records, and creating fake beneficiary lists to claim funds illegally.
The court found them guilty under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A Warning to Corrupt Officials
This verdict sends a strong message against financial mismanagement in government welfare schemes.
Officials hailed the court’s decision, stating that such fraudulent activities deprive genuine beneficiaries of opportunities and harm the credibility of government programs.
The case highlights the deep-rooted nexus between corrupt officials and private entities in siphoning off public funds, and authorities have assured stricter vigilance in the future to prevent such scams.
