Kolkata, 13 May (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced a “zero tolerance” policy against corruption, saying his government has granted permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation to proceed with action and file charge sheets against officials accused in multiple corruption cases.

Addressing a press conference at Nabanna, Adhikari alleged that the previous state government had deliberately kept several CBI cases pending over the past four years in order to shield corrupt officials.

“The CBI or any court-appointed investigating agency requires permission from the state government to file charge sheets or initiate punitive action against government officials. The previous administration intentionally withheld such approvals,” the Chief Minister said.

He stated that the new government has now cleared the required permissions in corruption-related cases linked to three departments and has formally communicated the approvals to the CBI.

According to Adhikari, permission has been granted for action against officials being investigated under court-monitored probes related to the teacher recruitment scam in the education department, alleged recruitment irregularities in municipal bodies and cases connected to the cooperative department.

The Chief Minister said his government came to power with a strong public mandate and expectations of strict action against institutional corruption.

“During the election campaign, we had promised action against corruption. It was also part of our party’s manifesto. In the coming days, people of the state will witness more concrete steps in this direction. The process has already begun,” he said.

The announcement is being seen as one of the first major administrative decisions of the new BJP-led government in West Bengal aimed at reopening and accelerating investigations into alleged corruption cases involving public officials.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh