Potka village head held in toilet fund scam

Potka police made a breakthrough in the toilet fund scam by arresting Manpur panchayat mukhiya Tarini Sen Singh on Wednesday. Sources said Tarini is one of the three mukhiyas accused in this scam involving around Rs 1 crore. The trio were on the run for several months after FIRs were filed against them in different police stations. On Wednesday, police picked up Tarini from his house in Potka area in East Singhbhum district.After getting a tip off, police raided Tarini’s house and arrested him. Later, he was sent to jail. The other accused who are still on the run are Sankarda panchayat mukhiya Kapra Hansda and Sangram panchayat head Rukmini Murmu.
FIRs had been lodged against the trio in Potka, Jadugora and Kotwali police stations.
The trio were accused of siphoning off funds allocated for the construction of toilets in the rural areas of Potka assembly segment.
It may be mentioned here that after the Narendra Modi-led government came to power for the first time in 2014, the construction of toilets, especially in rural areas, received a boost under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Funds were allocated for the construction of toilets and panchayats were given the responsibility in this connection. Sources said in many panchayat areas in Potka, funds were siphoned off by the village heads.