Guwahati: Two Durga Puja committees allege that a Kolkata-based artist took approximately Rs 13.35 lakh for pandal and idol work before leaving the projects incomplete.The Chatribari and Nayantara Puja committees alleged that Sudipta Pal failed to complete the work despite receiving payments. Babul Rajbongshi, cultural secretary of the Chatribari committee, said an FIR was lodged at Bharalu police station.Rajbongshi said Pal agreed to construct the Chatribari pandal for Rs 8 lakh. “Accordingly, he was engaged in the project last month. He took Rs 5.35 lakh from the committee in different segments, saying that the money was required for purchasing materials from Kolkata, and disappeared on Oct 10,” he added.“He was supposed to complete the entire work by Oct 10, but only around 30% has been completed,” Rajbongshi said.The committee finalised a theme and engaged Pal after he was introduced by the Nayantara committee, he said. Pal later became irregular in visiting the site, Rajbongshi alleged.The Chatribari committee is now hiring labourers independently to complete the pandal.“We will try our best to recreate the theme we had planned. We may have to reduce some elements, but we will attempt to retain its essence,” Rajbongshi said.The Nayantara committee alleged that Pal had been engaged for pandal construction and idol-making and had received nearly Rs 8 lakh. The work remains incomplete, and the committees said they were unable to contact him as his phone was switched off.The allegations are yet to be established through investigation.
