Former Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Deputy Chief Executive Member Augustine R. Marak and retired GHADC Principal Secretary Hewingson A. Sangma have withdrawn their writ petition filed in the Meghalaya High Court with liberty to file afresh.
The duo along with former Chief Executive Member Denang T. Sangma, Brilliant R. Sangma, Dipul R. Marak, Kurosh R. Marak, Winningson Ch. Marak, Dolly K. Sangma, Bhupen Hajong and Sukaram K. Sangma have filed writ petitions in the High Court challenging the order issued by the State Lokayukta on July 28, 2023 charge sheeting them as also sitting MLA Sanjay A. Sangma and contractor Dolrich D. Sangma.
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Finance had sanctioned the Special Assistance during the year 2015 to 2016 for the area covered under the Sixth Scheduled of the Constitution to the GHADC to be utilised as per the guidelines for utilisation of the amount issued by NITI Aayog. Accordingly, money was sanctioned to the GHADC which was duly disbursed by the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills.
The total amount sanctioned to the GHADC by the Ministry of Finance is Rs 100,71,00,000. Out of this amount, Rs 6,01,31,100 was allotted for construction of MDC Hostel at Tura by Sanjay A. Sangma and an amount of Rs 3,52,12,280 was allotted for construction of GHADC Court building at Tura by Dolrich D. Sangma.
It is stated that the period for completion of the project was for two years but the contractors – Sanjay A. Sangma and Dolrich D. Sangma – have not completed the project till date. In view of this, social worker Kingstone Bolwari Sangma filed a complaint before the Court of Lokayukta under Section 20 of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.
The Chairperson of the Lokayukta on receiving the complaint filed by Sangma registered the case vide complaint case No.5 of 2021, and passed the order on May 10, 2021 directing the Director of Inquiry to conduct the preliminary inquiry within 15 days.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in pursuance to the order of the Lokayukta endorsed and directed Sengrikchi N. Marak, Assistant Commander SF-10 attached as DSP of West Garo Hills to conduct the preliminary inquiry. Marak after completing the preliminary inquiry submitted the inquiry report to the Lokayukta.
The Chairperson of the Lokayukta after receiving the preliminary inquiry report submitted by Marak found prima facie case of corruption and accordingly passed the order on April 5, 2023 directing Anil Sangma, Member of Inquiry Wing of the Lokayukta for detailed investigation to ascertain the fact leading to misappropriate of the fund by the GHADC.
Anil Sangma conducted a detailed investigation and found that besides Sanjay A. Sangma and Dolrich D. Sangma, ten other individuals mentioned above who included the former CEM, former Deputy CEM, former Executive Members and the retired Principal Secretary of GHADC were involved in misappropriation of public fund.
It is stated that the complaint was filed mainly against Sanjay A. Sangma, Dolrich D. Sangma and Hewingson A. Sangma for non-completion of the project namely the construction of MDC Hostel at Tura under special assistance of central plan scheme for 2015-2016 and for construction of court building at Tura under special assistance of central plan scheme for 2015-2016.
During the course of investigation, the former CEM, former Deputy CEM and former EMs of GHADC were found involved in the case and therefore they were charge-sheeted by the Lokayukta.
The above mentioned individuals have challenged against the charge sheeting order of the Lokayukta seeking an interim order to stay the operation of the charge sheeting order dated July 28, 2023 of the Lokayukta and to stay the consequent proceedings in special PC Case No.2 of 2023 pending in the court of Special Judge, West Garo Hills and subsequently have withdrawn the case and the High Court in its order passed on October 11, 2023 has allowed the same.
