Meghalaya Lokayukta charge-sheets NPP MLA, 9 ex-GHADC members, contractors in corruption case

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 2, 2023

The Meghalaya Lokayukta has charge sheeted 12 persons including a sitting MLA, nine former members of the executive committee and a secretary of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) besides two contractors for non-completion of the member’s hostel at Tura, which amounting to Rs 6,01,31,100.00.

In his order passed on July 28, Chairperson of the Meghalaya Lokayukta B Dhar said, “Case record put up today along with the Investigation report submitted by Anil Sangma, MPS (retd), member of the Inquiry Wing, Meghalaya Lokayukta. The following public servants/respondents are charge-sheeted under Section 12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended).

Those charge sheeted include former GHADC chief Denang T Sangma and 8 former MDCs – Augustine R Marak, Brilliant R Sangma, Dipur R Marak, Kurosh M Marak, Winningson ChM arak, Dolly K Sangma, Bhupen Hajong, Sukaram K Sangma.

The others include GHADC secretary Hewingson A Sangma and two contractors – Sanjay A Sangma and Dolrich D Sangma.

Sanjay A Sangma is presently the NPP legislator from Mahendraganj constituency.

The Chairperson of the Lokayukta in his order also directed that the Director of Prosecution to forward the case records, in original to the Public Prosecutor of West Garo Hills, Tura to initiate prosecution in a Special Court of West Garo Hills, Tura.

“The exhibit seized shall be handed over to the Prosecuting Inspector of Tura Court for safe custody,” the order stated.

It may be mentioned here that the complaint was lodged  by one Kingstone Bolwari  Sangma  against Sanjay A. Sangma and others for non-completion of project for construction of Member hostel at Tura amounting to Rs. 6,01,31,100.00.

The said amount was allotted on the said project under Special Assistance of Central Plan Scheme for the period of 2015-2016 whereby the Ministry of Finance have released 100.71 Crore as an Grant-in-Aid to GHADC, Tura to develop the Schedule Tribe areas.

The Lokayukta have conducted the preliminary enquiry and found prima facie that there were irregularities with regards to the implementing of projects and subsequently directed to conduct the detailed investigation.

In a statement, Kingstone, who is also Meghalaya working president of the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Youth Power of India, informed that the member of the Inquiry Wing of the Lokayukta also have submitted the charge sheet and detailed investigation report to the Special Court,  Tura.“The Special Court, Tura has passed an order  taking cognizance of the same and  also has registered the case  and fixed the date for appearance on 29.08.2023,” he said.