Shillong, Jun 24: The Directorate of Enforcement’s (ED) has provisionally attached immovable property valued at ₹40 lakh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The attached property is in the name of former Asanang MDC Ismail R. Marak.
The ED, Shillong sub-zonal office had initiated an investigation based on a charge sheet filed in the Special P.C. Act Case No. 01/2023, dated May 18, 2023, a statement said.
The case arose from complaints lodged with the Meghalaya Lokayukta regarding violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The inquiry revealed that Rs. 28.66 crore was received by the GHADC as grant assistance, of which Rs. 1 crore was designated for the 16-Asanang constituency to support 49 development projects.
The ED said 60 per cent of the project funds were released in advance to two contractors, Kubon Sangma and Nikseng Sangma in violation of the Meghalaya Financial Rules, 1981.
“The work orders were allegedly obtained on the basis of forged signatures, even though the projects were never executed. The funds so released were thereafter siphoned off,” the directorate said.
The investigation further traced proceeds of crime amounting to Rs. 52.60 lakh, which had been siphoned off by Ismail R. Marak (Rs. 19.60 Lakh, received in cash) and his wife, Pratibha Marak (Rs 33 lakh received by bank transfer), through accounts of the contractors.
The ED said the immovable property has been attached as it constitutes the value of the identified proceeds of crime.
Earlier, bank account balances aggregating Rs. 16.38 Lakh were frozen under Section 170A) of the PMLA, which has been confirmed by the adjudicating authority. Searches were also conducted in at least five premises in Tura on December 4, 2025.
