GODALA IN CID CUSTODY, BAIL REJECTED

By Pradiptamay Saha (TNI Siliguri) ~ Edited By Ishita Das (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Siliguri, 16th July, 2015: SJDA Scam accused Godala Kiran Kumar’s plea for bail was rejected today at Siliguri ACJM Court. ACJM Mr. Debanjan Ghosh has ordered 4 days custody as per the demand of Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Godala has been accused with section 409, 467, 468, 471, 477 and 420 of Indian Penal Code. Investigating CID officer Mr. Goutam Ghosh said, “Accused had sanctioned payment before the actual work was completed. There is a chance that he had done this by taking bribe. To recover that bribe, it was necessary to take him in custody.” The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Godala Kiran Kumar, was arrested by CID on Wednesday night from Pintel Village, Siliguri, for allegedly siphoning off funds from Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) while serving as its CEO. Presently Kiran Kumar is working as Joint Secretary (Agriculture), West Bengal Government and posted at Nabanna. Yesterday CID called him for questioning. Goutam Ghosh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CID, said that Kiran Kumar was taken into custody after finding his answers not satisfactory regarding the purchase of four electric furnace of a crematorium that was being constructed by the SJDA during his tenure from September 2011 to March 2013. The SJDA scam is said to be worth of approximately Rs.200 crore. Earlier in November 2013, the then Siliguri commissioner of police K. Jayaraman arrested Kiran Kumar who was serving then as District Magistrate of Malda. As K. Jayaraman had not intimated and sought permission from State Government prior to the arrest, he was sent for compulsory waiting. The IAS officer was released the very next day after he was granted bail in the case.This time the entire process was completed smoothly with proper permission from Sate Government. However, the lawyer of Godala Mr. Tarit Ojha and Atri Deo Sharma grumbled that the arrest could have been avoided as there is no chance of escaping as his client is working in a higher post and posted at Nabanna itself. They also added, “In the initial complain it was mentioned that as the CEO of SJDA, Mr. Godala had taken strict step against those executives who were involved in the scam. However, now CID is presenting Godala as the main accused.” According to them, all the decisions were taken by the board and Mr. Godala had executed them. Board members have been interrogated also but CID is not disclosing anything and Mr. Godala is being victim.