The sabhadhipati of the Trinamul Congress-run Malda zilla parishad has been accused of illegally digging soil from farmland and using the same to fill up a plot where his house is under construction.

Congress leaders of Chanchal in Malda district where A.T.M. Rafikul Hossain, the sabhadhipati, resides have filed a police complaint against him. Hossain denied the charge.

“There is a specific instruction from the district administration that no one can dig soil anywhere to use it for other purposes other than agriculture. The sabhadhipati and his associates are blatantly violating it and digging soil from agricultural land at Asrail. They are loading the soil onto tractors at night and dumping it on the plot at Adarshapally (located under the jurisdiction of Chanchal police station) where he is building a house,” said Kazi Ataur Rehman, a Congress leader of Chanchal 1 block.

The Congress circulated a video clip which shows an excavator engaged to dig soil and load it onto tractors.

Anizudding Ahmed, a resident of Asrail, has also raised a similar charge against Hossain. “In a regular manner, soil is being loaded onto tractors and sent to the plot of the sabhadhipati. This is a gross violation of laws and the administration should take immediate steps,” he said.

Hossain, who is also the Trinamul president of Chanchal 1 block, said: “The allegations are baseless. I have not dug earth to fill my plot.”

Officials of the district administration said they would look into the matter.