Shillong, Jul 30: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) witnessed uproar on the second day of the budget session after allegations of financial misappropriation, forgery and an attempt to take a ₹200 crore loan surfaced.
During the question hour, MDC Rinaldo K. Sangma sought details on the payment of ₹23.60 lakh from GHADC funds to Delhi-based Lexi Corp LLP in 2025. Records showed the firm received ₹20 lakh and later ₹3.60 lakh as professional fees.
Rinaldo questioned why the payment did not appear under Budget Grant No. 12 on Loans and Grants, where it was shown as “Nil.” He also alleged the same company facilitated the proposed ₹200 crore loan.
Deputy CEM Stevie M. Marak tabled minutes of a previous Executive Committee meeting and accused former CEM Albinush R. Marak and former Deputy CEM Nikman Ch. Marak tried to commit the Council to the loan without its knowledge.
“If this had gone through, GHADC would have had to repay ₹200 crore,” the Deputy CEM told reporters. He also alleged tampering of EC records, claiming his name was entered as present in the meeting that approved the proposal despite his absence. “I will file a forgery case,” he said.
Nikman denied the charges, saying the company was engaged personally by the former CEM and was not a GHADC entity. Refuting this, Stevie produced documents naming the former CEM and Deputy CEM as first directors of the company “on behalf of the Council.”
“The District Council is not a private company. Why was ₹23.60 lakh of Council funds paid to it? Who authorised it?” Stevie asked, demanding recovery of the amount from the former CEM and Deputy CEM.
Opposition members demanded accountability over the payment, the loan proposal and alleged record tampering.
