Patna, Oct 9 Opposition parties in Bihar have demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into large-scale financial irregularities and corruption in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies exposed by an audit report.

"We demand a CBI probe into the financial irregularities and corruption in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi are responsible for it," Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) state president Pasupati Kumar Paras said.

Senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Ram Kirpal Yadav also made the same demand.

Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Rabri Devi questioned Nitish Kumar's claims of good governance after the audit exposed corruption.

The newly floated Lok Morcha's state president P. K. Sinha said: "Nitish Kumar is directly responsible for financial irregularities and corruption and he should resign."

The audit report was released by Bihar Principal Accountant General (PAG) (Audit) A. K. Singh and examiner of local accounts D. Jai Sankar here Wednesday.

The report has unravelled irregularities totalling Rs. 130.77 crore in urban local bodies and Rs. 128.56 crore in panchayati raj institutions of the state.

"Engagement of same labourers has been shown twice, thrice and even four times in the same period in Ujiarpur and Parihar panchayat samitis (committees) in Patna and Katihar zila parishads," the report said.

It disclosed that two separate estimates were prepared, work allotted to two separate agencies and advances paid in five cases in the Chakai panchayat.

The advances paid by Narkatiaganj, Runnisaidpur, Sono and Masaurih panchayat samitis were never recovered although the works were abandoned or postponed.

None of the 48 panchayat samitis and 196 gram panchayats covered in the audit had prepared budget estimates. Similarly, none of the panchayati raj institutions covered had prepared annual accounts for the year up to March 2007.

The report covered details of 25 percent of the units of the panchayati raj institutions and 30 percent of the urban local bodies for the year ending March 31, 2008. (IANS)