Headmaster and Clerk Arrested in Malda Tablet Scam, 5 Days CID Custody
**Malda:** A significant step by the CID in the tablet scam case. The headmaster Dulal Mandal and the clerk Rajesh Choudhury of Kendpukur High School in Habibpur police station area of Malda have been arrested by the CID. When the two arrested were presented in the Malda district court, the judge ordered five days of CID custody.
It is alleged that in November 2024, the money sent by the state government for students to purchase tablets was diverted to other accounts instead of the designated accounts of the students in multiple instances. This incident has caused a stir across the state. Allegations of misappropriation of tablet funds have also emerged against various schools in Malda district. Subsequently, the entire incident was handed over to the CID for investigation.
Earlier, the CID had arrested several individuals from Itahar in North Dinajpur, including Malda. Now, with renewed momentum in the investigation, the headmaster and clerk of Kendpukur High School in Habibpur have been arrested.
According to CID sources, **the tablet funds of 91 students from that school had been transferred to other accounts**. The revelation of this incident has caused widespread concern. The then district school inspector Banibrata Saha had filed a complaint against the headmaster at the police station. Subsequently, the headmaster also filed a complaint against the clerk.
Devjyoti Pal, the government lawyer of Malda district court, stated that the tablet funds were transferred to other accounts using the school's Wi-Fi. He claimed that an OTP was sent to the headmaster's phone during the transfer of funds. The CID has taken the two accused into custody to investigate to whom he gave that OTP and whether anyone else is involved in this incident.
On the other hand, Nilanjan Das, the general secretary of the BJP in South Malda district, alleged that corruption and looting have taken place during the tenure of the then government. He demanded a neutral investigation into how the tablet funds went to other accounts and who is behind it. He also called for exemplary punishment for the actual culprits.
Now, the CID is waiting for the investigation to reveal how the tablet funds of 91 students reached other accounts, who used the OTP, and whether anyone else is involved in this incident.
