Former Naxalbari Gram Panchayat Upa Pradhan arrested over alleged embezzlement of government funds

Naxalbari, 11th August: Former Naxalbari Gram Panchayat Upa Pradhan and TMC Anchal Sabhapati Bishwajit Ghosh, alias Rocket, was arrested by Naxalbari Police over allegations of embezzling government funds.

According to police, the arrest was made based on a complaint lodged by Naxalbari Gram Panchayat Opposition Leader and BJP Mandal president Sadhan Chakraborty. Bishwajit Ghosh has been accused of allegedly misappropriating around ₹2.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh.

The accused was produced before the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court on Tuesday. During his court appearance, BJP leaders and workers raised ‘chor chor’ slogans and staged an ‘egg treatment’ protest.

Sadhan Chakraborty alleged that the former Upa Pradhan treated the Gram Panchayat office as his personal property and allegedly misappropriated panchayat revenue without depositing it.

He further alleged that revenue collected from the bus stand, hoardings and toll tax was not deposited with the Gram Panchayat and was allegedly misappropriated by Bishwajit Ghosh.

Police are investigating the allegations and the financial transactions related to the case.