LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, April 15: Two days after independent legislator Saryu Roy levelled allegations of corruption against state health minister Banna Gupta and hours after the BJP demanded a judicial probe, the minister denied the charges.
“Saryu Roy told the estimated amount of Rs 14.59 lakh as the withdrawal running into crores. The allegations are misleading. If his information is true, he should give evidence from which bank and how much amount was transferred,” minister Gupta said, addressing a press conference.
Pleading innocence Banna said: “On February 16, I had a correspondence with the department. I asked regarding the criteria for giving incentives. In response to this, the department on February 23 informed me that an incentive amount of Rs 16.59 lakh has been assessed for the people associated with the ministerial cell. But till now no payment has been made. Saryu Roy has made a misleading allegation against me by terming the word ‘assessment’ as ‘withdrawal of crores’,” he said.
Roy, on April 13, had written a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren informing him about the financial irregularities done by the health minister. He had said that the health minister in the financial year 2021-22 took an incentive planned for those who played their role in the war against the corona pandemic. He had alleged that as many as 60 people in the health minister’s cell including his 32 bodyguards got the incentive on the recommendation of the health minister and the amount involved in the scam is in the tune of crores.
The health minister, however, said that he led a public life and as soon as he came to know about the dispute regarding the incentive amount he directed the department not to pay the amount to the ministerial cell staff.
Gupta clarified that a three-member committee had recommended payment of incentives to 94 workers working in the health department apart from the minister’s cell staff. Out of this, Rs 37 lakh has been paid to 93 workers so far.
“The total estimated expenditure of Rs 103 crore for the entire state has been assessed by the departmental resolution (1-5-2021) but has not been spent so far. However, Roy is accusing him of withdrawing crores of rupees,” he added.
Banna did not stop here. He also levelled counter allegations against Roy raising various local issues and cases pending against Roy in the high court. He also played the victim card during the press conference saying that allegations are being levelled as he belongs to the lower cast.
