The Meghalaya government has reported 74 cases of theft, misappropriation and loss involving government money amounting to Rs 2.75 crore up to March 2019 on which final action was pending.
This was revealed in the State Finances Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which was tabled in the State Assembly on November 12.
The highest amount of theft was in the Finance Department (Rs 86.50 lakh) and loss of government material amounting to Rs 1.94 lakh.
The highest amount of misappropriation of government money was in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (two cases) amounting to Rs 44.09 lakh.
In the Horticulture Department, there was one case of loss of government material amounting to Rs 21.06 lakh.
In the Mining Department, there was one case of misappropriation of money amounting to Rs 16.55 lakh.
According to the report, there were two cases of theft in the Public Works Department amounting to Rs 3.75 lakh, one case of misappropriation of money amounting to Rs 9.96 lakh and one case of loss of government material amounting to Rs 3.80 lakh. Altogether, the amount is Rs 17.51 lakh.
In the Health Department, there was one case of theft although the amount was not informed to the CAG and one case of loss of government material amounting to Rs 92,000.
In the PHE Department, there were 57 cases of theft amounting to Rs 7.41 lakh and one case of loss of government material amounting to Rs 18,000.
In the Community and Rural Development Department, there was one case of theft amounting to Rs 3.03 lakh.
In the Land Records and Survey Department, there was one case of theft amounting to Rs 1.56 lakh.
Out of all these 74 cases, the departments concerned had filed FIRs with the Police Department only in respect of 69 cases involving Rs 154.73 lakh.
In the remaining five cases involving Rs 46.02 lakh, no information was provided to the CAG whether FIRs had been filed.
In 54 cases amounting to Rs 28.20 lakh, the departments are awaiting departmental enquiry, in nine cases amounting to Rs 44.54 lakh, departmental action has been initiated but not finalised, in ten cases amounting to Rs 1.11 crore, the departments are awaiting orders for recovery or write off while one case amounting to Rs 16.55 lakh is pending in the court of law.
