NGO files FIR, brings graft charge against agri minister

Times of India: Guwahati: Saturday, 01 November 2014.

The Geetanagar police here registered a case against state agriculture minister Nilomoni Sen Deka on Friday on the basis of an FIR against him filed by an NGO, Assam Public Works (APW), charging him with issuing threats to its members, who were trying to unearth a corruption case in the department's Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna (RKVY) and Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI) scheme in the state.

The agriculture minister said the charges are false. Talking to TOI, Deka said he would take legal action against the NGO. In the FIR, APW has blamed the minister for violating the constitution of the country and trying to use his political power not only to shield corruption but misuse it against the NGO members.

The NGO had filed an RTI in the agriculture department and sought details of the use of funds in the RKVY and BGREI schemes. "After we found anomalies, we registered a case with the CID here to probe into the misappropriation of huge government funds by various officials of the department a few months back," said APW publicity secretary Rajib Deka.

Citing the FIR, the APW official said, "Pursuant to the case, CID called for the original documents relating to the case from the nodal director of the two schemes in Guwahati. But the official concerned has been delaying the production of the original documents by asking for time."

The CID, however, had asked the official to furnish all the documents by October 27. He had not submitted them.

"After the ultimatum was over, CID officials went to the office of the nodal officer and asked for the documents for seizing. But then officials failed to produce all the documents. Subsequently, minister Deka told the media he would only submit the reports to CID if the state government allowed it," added APW publicity secretary. The NGO alleged the minister has also threatened its members saying he would sue them for blackmailing.

The minister told TOI, "There were no anomalies. My department has been awarded four times for transparency and performance. All the audits have been done by a government authority. So, these charges are nothing but nonsense. I will move court."