The Meghalaya Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today relieved its Scheduled Tribe Morcha president and former Chief Executive Member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Boston Marak, from all responsibilities after he was charge sheeted by the Lokayukta over corruption.
Stating that the BJP practises zero tolerance on corruption, state BJP president Ernest Mawrie said, “Recently the Lokayukta has chargesheeted the former CEM of the GHADC, Boston Marak, who happens to be now in the BJP and our Scheduled Tribe Morcha president”.
“I am relieving him from all responsibilities with immediate effect and forwarding this matter to the party disciplinary committee for suggestions on what action should be taken against him,” he added.
The Lokayukta had, on May 18, filed a chargesheet naming Boston Marak, former GHADC Secretary Hewingson Sangma, 10 MDCs as well as a few contractors after it suspected them to be involved in a case of corruption involving public funds.
The Lokayukta further recommended that a special court be set up in Tura so that action can be taken against those named in the chargesheet.
The Lokayukta heard a case filed by social activist Nilbath Ch Marak of Williamnagar in 2019 against the then MDC of Asanang, Ismail Marak, and contractors Nikseng Sangma and Kubon Sangma for withdrawing funds from the GHADC without any actual work being done.
Besides Boston Marak and Hewingson Sangma, the chargesheet also names Mark Goera Marak, Righteous Sangma, Jimbirth Sangma, Levastone Sangma, Winnison Ch Marak, Rupert Sangma, Kenedick S Marak and Dhormonath Sangma for indulging in corruption amounting to Rs 28 crore in central funds.