Multi-crore scam in Book Fair! CM Suvendu orders high-level probe

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has ordered an immediate high-level investigation into major allegations of financial corruption amounting to crores of rupees involving district book fairs conducted during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime. The directive was issued on Wednesday during a Janata Darbar session organized at the Salt Lake BJP office. Newly appointed Library Services Minister Gouri Shankar Ghosh formally apprised the Chief Minister of systemic irregularities where state library funds were allegedly channeled to provide direct financial kickbacks.

According to the official brief submitted by the Library Ministry, the previous administration routinely bypassed transparent procurement procedures during state-backed literary events across multiple districts. The complainants stated that government funds earmarked for educational and library development were deliberately utilized to purchase volumes exclusively from publishers and entities closely allied with the TMC leadership. Chief Minister Adhikari held detailed consultations with the affected stakeholders and delegated the investigative mandate directly to Minister Ghosh to trace the financial trail.

The anti-corruption drive aligns with the new administration's zero-tolerance stance implemented shortly after the structural transition of power in the state. The state government has already established a dedicated commission led by retired Calcutta High Court Judge Biswajit Basu and senior IPS officer Jayaraman to probe money laundering and institutional scams spanning diverse sectors. With preliminary files now expanding to look into international commercial events and district book fairs, the oversight body has started processing administrative records to fix institutional accountability.