The high level inquiry conducted by the Police Department on the purchase and allotment of vehicles and use of fuel at the Police Headquarters here has unearthed a major scam.
According to reliable sources, the inquiry found that a total of 29 vehicles were in the “personal custody” of the Assistant Inspector General (A) Gabriel K. Iangrai who is an MPS officer.
Sources also said that when the vehicles were in personal custody of the AIG (A), the fuel coupons were issued by him directly without any sanction from competent authority.
In view of this, misappropriation of government funds cannot be ruled out. It is also clear that government vehicles meant for government duties were being misused for personal matters.
Sources also informed that among these 29 vehicles, one new Scorpio, one new Bolero, two new Swift Dzire cars and two new Bajaj motorcycles have not been allotted registration numbers due to non-supply of documents by AIG (A).
Sources also said that most of these vehicles do not have the latest mandatory BS VI standards and as such they do not comply with the directions and Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
In addition, a total number of eight new Bajaj Pulsar 150 cc motor cycles which were purchased in 2019 could not be registered since no documents are available.
The 29 vehicles that were in the personal custody Iangrai before April 2022 without any orders from the competent authority include four Mahindra Scorpios, seven Mahindra Boleros, one Mahindra Bolero Camper, one Mahindra KUV 100, two Mahindra Thars, two Maruti Eeco cars, five Bajaj Pulsar 150 cc, two Yamaha Scooties (125 cc), five TVS bikes (110cc).
Sources also said that ten staff working with the AIG (A), revealed during inquiry that the delivery of most of the vehicles procured by the Police Headquarters under various heads were personally managed by the AIG (A) through various people attached to him.
Sources also said that these vehicles were then taken directly on his orders to either Police Officer Mess or MPRO complex where they were kept and the keys of all these vehicles were kept in his official residence and often, these vehicles without any registration were used for his personal purpose without any sanction from Police Headquarters.
“No log books were ever maintained for these vehicles even though petrol and diesel coupons were issued by the AIG (A) himself on a regular basis,” sources said.
Sources also stated that three vehicles – Mahindra Scorpio S5, Mahindra Bolero and Mahindra KUV 100 which could not be registered yet were simultaneously used by the AIG (A) for different purposes.
“The year of procurement of the Mahindra Scorpio S5, Mahindra Bolero was not available,” sources said.
Sources also said that till date, the AIG (A) is holding one Tata truck from 4th MLP Battalion bearing registration no ML02 3022, which on paper is shown as attached to Police Headquarters.
“During inquiry, the driver of this truck said it has been continuously used for the past one year for the personal work of Iangrai. This truck was used to ferry construction material to his new residential site. No log book was maintained for this vehicle and the fuel coupon for all the transportation of personal goods was issued by him,” sources said.
Sources also said that the inquiry found that another Bolero Camper bearing registration no (ML 05-W-2854) is currently in the custody of the AIG (A) shown as attached to Police Guest House but utilised by him for personal use.
During inspection of the vehicles at the Central Workshop, one Mahindra Scorpio S5 variant handed over to the workshop on May 18, 2022 was found without any connected documents. There were no related papers connected to the Police Headquarters. From which fund the vehicle was purchased remains a mystery.
Sources also said that one Hyundai Verna car which is parked at Central Workshop has been allotted a fake number and no registration of the vehicle was done since no documents are available.
It was also found that the procurement of vehicles in the Police Headquarters was not done as per sanction approved from the Home (Police) Department.
The Home (Police) Department on March 28, 2019 accorded sanction for procurement of four Mahindra Mahindra Bolero ZLX vehicles having BS IV variant. An amount of Rs 29,13,429 was sanctioned for the same.
However, as per the allotment order issued on September 20, 2019, only three Bolero ZLX vehicles and one Bolero LX vehicle were allotted.
“It is not clear from where and under what head, the Bolero LX was purchased. It could not be ascertained from which scheme or state budget, the Bolero LX allotted to the SP of East Khasi Hills was procured as there are no records made available,” sources said.
It was learnt that during the inquiry, no records were found in the file regarding the date when the vehicles were delivered by the dealer. However, payment has been made to the dealer. Also, there is no record for one Bolero ZLX for which a supply order was placed with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Moreover, the Home (Police) Department on December 23, 2019 accorded sanction for procurement of four Mahindra Scorpio (S11) vehicles for the security of the Chief Minister and Home Minister of Meghalaya. However, as per the actual procurement, only one Mahindra Scorpio S11 out of the four Mahindra Scorpios was procured and the remaining Scorpios were of lower variant.
Sources also said that during inquiry, it was found that no papers were available showing delivery of these four vehicles or handing and taking over of the same. To whom these vehicles were delivered or handed over to is still unknown.
During inquiry, an audit was conducted on the inventory of Central Motor Workshop where it was found that a lot of manipulations have taken place for the personal whims and fancies of one officer even when senior police officers in Police Headquarters and other units were suffering for not having better vehicles.
Sources also said that no proper records were ever maintained in Police Headquarters and things were being run on adhoc basis without the knowledge of DGPs and other senior officers.
It may be mentioned that Director General of Police Lajja Ram Bishnoi has on July 21 ordered an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and mismanagement in the procurement of vehicles and use of fuel in the Police Headquarters.
The inquiry was headed by Additional Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Mukesh Kumar Singh. The other members of the inquiry committee include Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range) Davis N R Marak, Commandant of First MLP Battalion Claudia A. Lyngwa, Superintendent of Police (Anti-Infiltration) Jubi G. Momin and official in-charge of Central Workshop B V Khongwir.
