Staff Reporter, Duranta TV, Agartala:
Serious controversy has erupted in the state’s administrative circles over the promotion process of Akinchan Sarkar to the IAS cadre. Allegations ranging from land scams, financial corruption, purchase of flats in Mumbai, to running a syndicate for post-retirement reappointments of officials have surfaced against him. Despite these accusations, his name has reportedly been forwarded to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
After Akinchan Sarkar’s name appeared in the recently published list of six officers recommended for IAS promotion, strong resentment has reportedly grown within sections of the administration. Several officers claim that in the past, even minor allegations were enough to block IAS promotion files of many TCS officers. However, despite repeated and serious allegations against Akinchan Sarkar, his file was allegedly cleared and forwarded, sending a negative message throughout the administrative system.
Allegations have also emerged that parts of the investigation committee’s report were allegedly “edited” before the DPC report was sent to the DoPT. The reinvestigation of a land scam report from North District was reportedly assigned to Arun Kumar Ray, considered a close associate of Akinchan Sarkar. According to sources in the Secretariat, “they are protecting each other.”
In 2020, following instructions from former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb regarding a land-related case involving Akinchan Sarkar, then Principal Secretary Barun Kumar Sahu reportedly wrote to the then District Magistrate of Unakoti, Rabindra Reang, asking for disciplinary action against a revenue official. However, that investigation allegedly remains buried in files even today. A copy of that letter has been presented.
Sources further allege that, ignoring FR-56 rules, Arun Kumar Ray was repeatedly reappointed to important positions after retirement by Akinchan Sarkar. It is also alleged that the same Arun Kumar Ray worked overtime even on weekends to modify portions of the report received from Unakoti district, allegedly providing a “protective shield” to Akinchan Sarkar. Questions are now being raised about why such urgency was shown even during government holidays.
A former IAS officer told Duranta TV that receiving IAS promotion despite so many allegations would be practically impossible without the support of the Chief Secretary. According to him, only the recommendation of the Chief Secretary can move such files forward to the UPSC. He also claimed that details of how Akinchan Sarkar allegedly secured that recommendation would soon be revealed.
According to multiple sources accessed by Duranta TV, a powerful syndicate involving the reappointment of retired officers has allegedly developed across the state. It is claimed that a close group associated with Akinchan Sarkar contacts officers shortly before retirement and arranges their reappointment allegedly through financial agreements. Officers unwilling to meet the alleged financial demands reportedly do not receive reappointments.
A retired TCS officer told Duranta TV that both he and one of his colleagues had applied for reappointment. According to him, they were allegedly asked to pay large sums of money in exchange for securing those appointments. Screenshots of messages sent by the officer have been shown publicly. However, Duranta TV has not independently verified these claims.
Several additional emails and official documents have reportedly reached Duranta TV through Secretariat sources. A retired influential TCS officer has alleged that Akinchan Sarkar’s team has been arranging repeated reappointments of retired officers in exchange for money. This has raised questions about whether the government’s official retirement age of 60 is actually being followed in Tripura.
Another major question being raised is how one officer could reportedly continue in the same position for nearly 16 years. According to the retired TCS officer, some influential ministers allegedly used Akinchan Sarkar to expand their financial interests over the years. It is also alleged that removing him could expose several hidden facts, which is why no action is being taken against him.
There is growing discussion within administrative circles that certain influential bureaucrats and retired officials are effectively controlling ministers and parts of the Secretariat. Names such as Apurba Ray, Subhendu Dasgupta, Dipak Dasgupta, and A.K. Bhattacharya are reportedly being discussed in this context. Allegations suggest that retired officials continue to exercise strong influence over the functioning of the Secretariat.
Another source of Duranta TV claimed that over the last three years, two influential ministers allegedly accumulated large amounts of wealth by using Akinchan Sarkar. According to the source, instead of investigating multiple corruption allegations, he is now allegedly being rewarded with IAS promotion. The source further claimed, “Because of the ministers’ vulnerabilities, nobody has the courage to remove Akinchan Sarkar.”
On August 8, 2019, then Joint Secretary Ajit Debnath reportedly wrote to the District Magistrate of Unakoti seeking action against officials accused of diverting government khas land and forest land through illegal means. Initially, Akinchan Sarkar’s name was also allegedly linked to that land-related case.
Fresh allegations have also emerged regarding contacts with the UPSC. Sources of Duranta TV claim that Akinchan Sarkar allegedly possesses confidential information related to certain “unofficial or undisclosed activities” of UPSC Secretary Shashi Ranjan Kumar. It is alleged that this information helped him remain in the same position for nearly 16 years.
Duranta TV claims to have already obtained three pieces of evidence connected to these alleged “hidden secrets” involving IAS officer Shashi Ranjan Kumar. The channel says those details will be revealed gradually in the coming days.
Meanwhile, questions are also being raised inside the Secretariat regarding how Duranta TV obtained multiple old government documents. According to sources, Akinchan Sarkar has allegedly started a detailed internal search inside the Secretariat to identify the source of the leaks.
More explosive revelations are expected soon…
