The state government on Wednesday transferred Sanjay Sikdar, the Sutahata BDO in East Midnapore, as Darjeeling (headquarters) deputy magistrate, amid questions on whether he was “punished” for filing a police complaint against a Trinamul-backed panchayat pradhan over Amphan relief irregularities.
Though state government officials on Thursday claimed Sikdar’s transfer was “routine”, a source in the district administration said there could be more to it than met the eye.
Sikdar’s complaint was used by Trinamul’s rivals to justify their charges of corruption against the ruling party over Amphan dole.
As reported by The Telegraph, Sikdar on July 2 sent a complaint via email to Sutahata police asking for a formal probe into panchayat pradhan Shibani Bakuli’s beneficiary list, with alleged inconsistencies. “Sikdar was the only member of the administration who did this. TMC district leadership may have put pressure on the state government for his transfer,” a source said.
A senior district officer dismissed any political angle. “He completed his tenure as BDO, he was supposed to get transferred to a higher post.”
Sikdar said the transfer “was according to protocol”.
Opposition leaders were blunt. “Sikdar’s stand against corruption led to his transfer,” said BJP district president Nabarun Nayak. CPM district secretary Niranjan Sihi termed it “political revenge”.
District Trinamul leaders said they had nothing to do with the transfer. Trinamul’s Sutahata working president Tapas Maity said: “Darjeeling is a beautiful place.”
The state government on Wednesday transferred 36 West Bengal Civil Service officers.