Bengal grants CBI sanction in 4 graft cases

Kolkata: Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said the state govt had granted sanction for prosecution to the CBI in four cases to enable action against officials accused of corruption."The previous govt blocked four CBI cases for the last four years. Under the law, the CBI or an investigating agency requires sanction from the state govt to file charge sheets, prosecutions, or initiate action against govt officials accused of corruption," Adhikari said."The earlier CM who also headed the home department kept the sanction pending to protect the corrupt officers. Today I signed the document, as BJP govt has zero tolerance for corruption," he told reporters."We have now granted the necessary sanction to the CBI against officials linked to corruption in three departments. Copies of the approval have already been sent to the agency," he added.According to Adhikari, the sanctions involve officials of the education department in the recruitment scam, the municipal affairs department in the alleged ‘super recruitment' scam, and cases linked to the cooperative department that are under court-monitored investigation."This govt has arrived with many expectations. We granted sanction against those officials who were being probed under the court's direction," the CM said, adding, "so action will be taken against officials involved in institutional corruption."Adhikari said action against institutional corruption had been part of the party's poll manifesto. "In the coming days, people of the state will witness more such measures," he added.At a meeting with departmental secretaries at Nabanna Sabhaghar later in the day, the chief minister warned the administration against corruption and asked officials to work fearlessly. He also directed secretaries to coordinate with the Centre to ensure seamless implementation of central schemes within a week.Ex-CS Nandini to look over land transfer to BSFNandini Chakrabarti, now principal coordinator of development works in the CMO, has been tasked with coordinating the handover of land to the BSF for border fencing and the setting up of border outposts.After the first cabinet meeting on Monday, CM Suvendu Adhikari had said the requisite land would be handed over to the BSF within 45 days.