The Madhya Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) has launched a probe into the 2009-10 tribal housing scam involving lakhs of rupees in Baiher tehsil near here. CID Deputy Superintendent of Police DK Singh while talking to the mediapersons here on Sunday said, “We have started the probe (in the case) yesterday under which statements of all 233 Baiga tribesmen will be recorded.”
The probe has been initiated afresh following directive of the MP High Court on a PIl alleging that police were dilly-dallying and were soft on the accused. The scam surfaced after the money sanctioned for building homes for Baiga tribals under a welfare scheme of State Tribal Welfare department was allegedly siphoned off by officials in 2009-10.
A sum of Rs 35,000 each was deposited in accounts of 233 Baigas in the co-operative bank by Baiga Development Authority under the welfare scheme. But tribals were asked to put their thumb marks and their entire money was withdrawn from the bank.
They were only provided a sum of just Rs 5,000-7,000 while rest of the amount was allegedly siphoned off by officials, according to some Baigas. After tribals filed a complaint with the police, accused were booked under relevant sections of IPC. Following the tardy pace of investigation, a PIl was filed in MP High Court which directed the CID probe into the scam afresh.