‘Safeguard files exposing TMC corruption’: BJP MP Raju Bista sounds alarm over attempts to destroy evidence
The Statesman | 6 May 2026
As West Bengal is set to witness a change in government following the 2026 Assembly election, fresh allegations over possible destruction of key municipal records have surfaced, triggering political tensions in the Darjeeling hills.
BJP MP Raju Bista on Tuesday said he had written to Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, urging immediate steps to secure documents in the Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Mirik municipalities. His appeal comes amid concerns raised by citizens and local organisations that sensitive records allegedly linked to corruption could be tampered with or destroyed.
In his communication, Bista said he had received multiple warning that caretakers appointed during the tenure of the Trinamool Congress government may attempt to remove or destroy crucial files. He alleged that these municipalities have been functioning without elected boards since 2022 and were instead run by unelected caretaker chairpersons.
According to the BJP leader, these appointees have faced allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of public funds. He has sought strict directions to municipal executive officers to ensure that no documents are taken out of offices and that all records are preserved intact.
The development comes in the backdrop of a sweeping political shift in the state, with the Bharatiya Janata Party coming to power, ending the long-standing rule of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. The transition has intensified scrutiny over administrative decisions taken under the previous regime.
Bista asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new dispensation would ensure accountability and action against those found guilty of misusing public resources.