The Chairperson of the Meghalaya Lokayukta, PK Musahary, has asked that a charge sheet be filed against the Block Development Officers (BDOs) of Demdema and Selsella Community and Rural Development Blocks along with the officers named by the complainants.
The order, passed on November 9, was in response to one of the respondents, Silman Momin, who appealed to have his name removed from the list as he was no longer an employee of the block office and was only an assistant accounts officer. Momin, in his appeal, had said that the accounts officer who he worked under had not been named but he had been despite having no complaints against him.
Earlier, various complainants from the Selsella and Demdema blocks had approached the Lokayukta over allegations of corruption, embezzlement of funds as well as non-payment to job card holders.
The complaints were filed by Sanowara Begum, Abdul Mozid Sk and Nur Islam against the BDO of Demdema, PR Sangma, the BDO of Selsella, Jude Rangku Sangma, and Momin.
Following the complaint, an investigation had been ordered by the Lokayukta seeking details of what transpired. The report of the investigation when submitted pointed to over Rs 1.11 crore of funds being embezzled in the name of dead people, dual job card holders as well as government officers that were also job card holders.
“I have gone through the preliminary report which contains at least 11 allegations… These are criminal in nature and attributable to corruption,” said the order by the Chairperson.
It was argued by the BDOs that a further inquiry should be ordered and nothing could be done based on the preliminary inquiry.
The Chairperson, however, argued that through the preliminary investigation there was enough prima facie evidence for a case to be filed.
He added that he was satisfied that a case did exist and there was nothing in the Act that stated that a preliminary report could not be sent for prosecution.
The matter is due to be heard on December 7.
