The one-man commission comprising Justice (retd) Debiprosad Dey on Thursday submitted its report in the Calcutta High Court over alleged tampering with the nomination papers of two panchayat candidates and recommended suspension of three government officers, including the Uluberia Block Development Officer (BDO). The commission also submitted that the three officers acted in a manner to help the TMC candidate win the election without a contest. It also recommended holding of fresh election by the State Election Commission in the Bahira-1 gram panchayat. The petitioners — Kashmira Begum and Anjuna Bibi — candidates for the panchayat election from Uluberia-1 block of Howrah district, had complained against the returning officer, alleging that the documents filed by them at the time of nomination were tampered with and that the information was misrepresented. Hearing the matter, the single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha on June 21 directed the CBI to probe the allegations. The state government moved a division bench of the HC challenging the single-bench order. The division bench of Justices Arijit Banerjee and Apurba Sinha Ray had set aside the single-bench order and requested Justice (retd) Dey to act as a one-man commission to supervise in order “to dispel any public perception or apprehension that a fair and impartial probe may not be held”. The court also directed the government to provide logistical support to the retired judge. The commission recommended the suspension of BDO Niladri Dey, Sub-divisional Officer (SDO) Shamik Kumar Ghosh, and OBC Department official Kripasindhu Samui after finding the allegations to be true. It also recommended a departmental inquiry against them.
