Assam: CM’s Vigilance chargesheet PWD engineer Chamed Ali on DA case

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 7, 2024

The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (SVC) filed chargesheet against the executive engineer of Karimganj PWD Road Division Chamed Ali on disproportionate assets (DA) before the Special Judge here on Wednesday.

The 658-page chargesheet was filed against the executive engineer under section 13(1)(b)/13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) after receipt of the prosecution sanction accorded by the PWD against him.

The case was taken up by the CM’s Vigilance based on a complaint lodged by Congress MLA Siddique Ahmed alleging that Ali took a huge amount of money from the contractors for release of payment of their bills without execution of works as per plan and estimate, and thereby acquired significant assets through illegal means, disproportionate to his known sources of income.

During the preliminary enquiry, it was found that Ali had acquired disproportionate assets (DA) following which the Vigilance Police Station case number 9/2023 under section 13(1) (b)/ 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered against Chamed Ali.

“It was alleged that the income of Chamed Ali and his wife from all known legal sources are disproportionate to the assets acquired, even though he is a government officer,” an official statement of CM’s Vigilance Cell stated.

“Based upon oral, circumstantial, documentary and material evidence, it was proved that Ali had committed criminal misconduct for his pecuniary benefit, and by corrupt, illegal means & by the exercise of personal influence he performed his public duty dishonestly,” the statement said.

“The engineer was found to have committed criminal misconduct as he intentionally enriched himself illicitly during the period of his office abusing his position as a public servant,” it said.

Md Chamed Ali was arrested on January 18, as he did not hand over the Indian passport. After arrest, he was remanded to five-day police custody. On completion of the remand period, he was remanded to judicial custody and presently he is in the central Jail, Guwahati.

“The engaged empanelled Chartered Accountant firm had analyzed and conducted a forensic auditing of all his financial transactions and details of his immoveable and moveable properties and found the percentage of the disproportionate assets accrued by the accused Md Chamed Ali to be 254.97%,” it also said.

“Ali possessed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 3,07,60,851 against his known sources of Income,” it added.