Govt has no authority to allow or oppose CBI investigation: BJP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 6, 2020

BJP state vice president, Bernard N Marak on Tuesday said permission of the state government is not required for conducting a CBI inquiry into the alleged misuse of central funds in the autonomous district councils (ADCs).

Marak was reacting to the statement of the District Council Affairs (DCA) minister, Lahkmen Rymbui that the government has decided to go ahead with its decision to audit GHADC funds and not for a CBI probe.

“Lakhmen Rymbui should understand that the state has no authority to allow or oppose CBI investigation where Central funds are involved. There is a strong ground for the CBI to come in. Moreover, GHADC is not under the State Government,” Marak said in a statement.

He said the BJP is not asking permission from the state government to conduct a CBI inquiry on misuse of central funds in the ADCs.

“State is not the authority of ADCs and they should know their limits so the question of them granting permission for CBI inquiry in GHADC on misuse of Central funds is illogical,” the BJP leader said.

Marak also asked the state government to refrain from trying to distract the minds of the public by interfering in the CBI inquiry in GHADC.

Following the BJP’s allegation, the state government had recently written to the Director of the Local Fund Audit (DLFA) for conducting an inquiry into the alleged misuse of central funds by the GHADC and JHADC.

Marak however questioned whether the DLFA can actually audit the central funds which has been misused.

“Local Fund Audit can audit PLA 1 (Personal Ledger Account 1) which is GHADC’s own fund but auditing Central funds is doubtful,” he said.