Kolkata, 02 November (H.S.) : The West Bengal Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Monday arrested a suspended Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Raghunathpur Municipality in Purulia district on grave charges of corruption and misappropriation of government funds. The arrest was executed in connection with ACB Police Station Case No. 23/26, which was formally registered on September 14, 2026.

According to an official press release issued by the ACB, the accused has been booked under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (as amended in 2018), Sections 416 and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 319/61(2) of the recently implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The overarching case pertains to allegations of extensive corruption, embezzlement of state funds, severe irregularities in municipal tenders and construction works, and suspected fraudulent activities involving government land.

The investigating agency revealed that substantial documentary evidence has been secured during the course of the probe. The confiscated materials include municipal tender records, a detailed enquiry report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), and various land and property documents registered in the names of the accused and his family members. All recovered documents are currently undergoing rigorous scrutiny by the authorities.

ACB officials stated that the accused had been served legal notices on two separate occasions under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, mandating his appearance before the Investigating Officer (IO). However, following his repeated failure to comply with the official summons and his continued non-cooperation with the ongoing probe, law enforcement proceeded with his arrest.

The ACB confirmed that further investigations and all necessary legal formalities are currently underway in strict accordance with the law.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh