The action-taken report by the State government on the police vehicle scam is expected to be taken up at the hearing of the Meghalaya High Court tomorrow.
The division bench of the High Court in its order passed on September 30 has directed the Secretary, Home Department to file a report about the action taken against those officials prima facie found to be involved in the scam.
During hearing the PIL on the matter, the State government told the High Court that the inquiry has been conducted into the matter and that charges would be framed against some persons against whom prima facie material has been discovered. However, the State government said that it is too early for any drastic action to be taken immediately.
The PIL filed by former diplomat Riewad V. Warjri and another citizen sought the High Court intervention into the perceived illegal procurement of vehicles by some officials of the Police Department.
The two petitioners claim that different vehicles were purchased by the Police Department since 2019 without any valid sanction from the competent authority and that a total number of 29 official vehicles were in the personal custody of Gabriel K. Iangrai, the then Assistant Inspector General (Administration) of the Meghalaya Police.
The petitioners suspect that though there was some hue and cry after the matter surfaced and some semblance of an inquiry may also have been conducted, there may be an attempt to cover up the entire episode and, worse still, not take steps against the guilty nor make any attempt to recover the public money that has obviously been squandered.
The Police Department had earlier launched an inquiry headed by Inspector General of Police M K Singh.
The inquiry found that 29 vehicles were under the personal custody of Iangrai without any orders from the competent authority.
According to the enquiry report submitted to the Home Department, it was found that some of the vehicles violated environmental norms and did not comply with the directions of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highway.
At least eight motor cycles were found purchased in 2019 but no documents were available, the report had stated, adding that these vehicles were used for Iangrai’s personal purpose without any approval from the Police Headquarters.
