Kolkata, Jul 24 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that the Transport Department suspended two officials over allegations of extortion and abuse of power at the Rampur checkpost in Paschim Bardhaman district.
In a post on X, Adhikari said the action followed a complaint by the owner and driver of a truck, alleging that the vehicle was wrongfully intercepted while returning to a garage after servicing and that the driver was harassed and pressured to pay bribes.
According to the complaint, after the driver refused, the vehicle was seized, and an “unlawful demand” of Rs 22,000 was raised towards a tax that the state government had already abolished, he said.
Adhikari said the Transport Department has suspended Motor Vehicle Inspectors Nazimul Haque and Anupam Banerjee, who were posted at the Rampur checkpost, with immediate effect.
He said the complaint has also been referred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for a thorough inquiry and legal action.
The government has also initiated steps to ensure the release of wrongfully detained vehicles and to deal firmly with harassment of transporters, the chief minister added.
Adhikari warned that any official found indulging in corruption, harassment or illegal gratification would face the strictest disciplinary and legal consequences.
“The West Bengal government maintains a zero tolerance policy towards corruption at any level of administration,” the chief minister said, adding that the government was committed to ensuring a transparent, fair and corruption-free administrative system. PTI BSM NN
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