Nagaland Post:Friday,16 September, 2011.
Opposition Congress members staged a walk out from the assembly in protest against the rejection of their demand for discussion on fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.18 crore through fictitious bills by the Director General of Police (DGP) Nagaland as contained in the CAG report tabled on the last day of the March budget session.
Making his plea, opposition CLP leader Tokheho said though it was the speaker’s prerogative to accept or reject the demand, he pointed out that it was a matter of public importance.
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE: Tokheho also came down heavily on state chief secretary Lalthara for breach of privilege in constituting the high powered committee to look into the Rs.18 crore scam in the police department even before the house could discuss the issue.
He said CAG report was tabled on the last day of the budget session on March 28 and so could not be discussed. However, even before the members could discuss the issue and refer it to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he said the chief secretary undermined the house tby constituting a high powered committee. Tokheho said since the monsoon session was only for a day, the opposition would move for a privilege motion against the chief secretary in the next assembly session.
Soon as the house reassembled, Opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi informed the speaker during Zero hour that in view of the opposition demand for discussion on the Rs.18 crore scam being rejected, they had not option but to walk out in protest.
CBI PROBE: Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference inside the opposition lobby room soon after the walkout, Tokheho accompanied by other opposition members demanded sanction for CBI inquiry under Article 163 of the constitution and removal of Home Minister Imkong L.Imchen from the council of minister and sanction for prosecution of the offender/s U/S 197 Cr.P.C.
He said prima facie, the case proved it was a case of looting public money through fraudulent means and causing colossal loss to the state exchequer. He said the grievous nature of the crime has been further compounded and internal security of the state greatly compromised by embezzlement of funds meant for procurement of arms and ammunitions and other security related equipments.
Tokheho said the DGP fraudulently withdrew money against fictitious bills, purportedly as cost of arms, ammunition, vehicles and other equipment for raising 6 Commando Companies during 2009-10. He said the scam was confirmed by furnished documental proofs such as vouchers and other official correspondences which indicated various anomalies.
The AG Nagaland in his confidential letters written to the five different firms for confirmation of the bills received, Ordinance Factory, Khamaria, Jabalpur, MP, Bridgegap Associates, New Delhi, Laggar Industries Limited, Jalandhar, Punjab, M/s Sanchar Telesystems Ltd, New Delhi and Tata Motors Ltd, Gauhati all confirmed that that the firms neither issued any bills or supplied materials to DGP Nagaland, the CLP leader said.
Careful scrutiny of the vouchers obtained from AG Nagaland and DGP Nagaland showed gross anomalies where Bill No and date and items were the same but with different signatures. In the r/o Ordinance Factory, Khamaria, Jabalpur amounting to Rs. 430.29 lakhs and Rs. 148.24 lakhs respectively, the signature of M.K. Mahapatra, Joint Manager were different. In r/o Bridgegap Associates, New Delhi amounting to Rs. 7,81,85,960/- the signature of the Manager were different. In r/o Laggar Industries Ltd, Jalandhar amounting to Rs. 15,00,1000/- the signatures of the Manager were different and in r/o Tata Motors Ltd, Gauhati amounting to Rs.2,02,09,996/- the signature of the Manager (Sales) were different.
Further, the mandatory entry of tax index number are found missing in all the Firms’ vouchers. In r/o Tata Motors Ltd, Gauhati, particulars of item and per unit cost of item No.3 were different and per unit cost difference was Rs. 8,57,887.50/- while for four units, a total difference comes to Rs.34,31,550/-. Similarly was the case with the r/o Laggar Industries Ltd, Jalandhar where the number of items and amount were different, the opposition added.
On the other hand, the three members Verification Committee led by H.K Khulu, Principal Secretary Agriculture & APC constituted by the government of Nagaland to verify the draft audit para report on the fraudulent drawal in its report admitted procedural irregularities but concluded that no intent of mischief in the procurement was found.
The opposition contested that by Public Accounts rule, when the C&AG report was tabled in the assembly, the matter was required to be referred to the Public Accounts Committee of the State Assembly for examination but which was not done. “It appears that in principle, the report of the verification Committee was accepted by the government of Nagaland and the chapter was treated as closed.”
Meanwhile, the opposition also furnished a copy of an RTI replies which stated that the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption has registered case No. RC-11/2011 at the Vigilance Police Station on Sept 16, 2010 for investigation of Rs.18 crore in the Police Department.
Congress walk-out ‘very unfortunate’: CM
State chief minister Neiphiu Rio termed the walk-out by the opposition Congress during the one day session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Thursday as “very unfortunate”. He remarked that the opposition had the habit of walking out, adding, they were not interested in discussing issues and sorting them out. Speaking after the Congress walk-out, the chief minister said the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) report has been tabled in the house and it was the duty of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to examine the matter.
Rio also pointed out that the PAC was not an investigating agency, but a committee to examine and take corrective measures. He said the committee, which also consisted of opposition members, has decided to check for spot verification and oral evidence. Meanwhile justifying his stand, NLA speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie said he disallowed the discussion as the matter was examined by PAC, which he added, was yet to submit its report to the house.
Making his plea, opposition CLP leader Tokheho said though it was the speaker’s prerogative to accept or reject the demand, he pointed out that it was a matter of public importance.
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE: Tokheho also came down heavily on state chief secretary Lalthara for breach of privilege in constituting the high powered committee to look into the Rs.18 crore scam in the police department even before the house could discuss the issue.
He said CAG report was tabled on the last day of the budget session on March 28 and so could not be discussed. However, even before the members could discuss the issue and refer it to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he said the chief secretary undermined the house tby constituting a high powered committee. Tokheho said since the monsoon session was only for a day, the opposition would move for a privilege motion against the chief secretary in the next assembly session.
Soon as the house reassembled, Opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi informed the speaker during Zero hour that in view of the opposition demand for discussion on the Rs.18 crore scam being rejected, they had not option but to walk out in protest.
CBI PROBE: Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference inside the opposition lobby room soon after the walkout, Tokheho accompanied by other opposition members demanded sanction for CBI inquiry under Article 163 of the constitution and removal of Home Minister Imkong L.Imchen from the council of minister and sanction for prosecution of the offender/s U/S 197 Cr.P.C.
He said prima facie, the case proved it was a case of looting public money through fraudulent means and causing colossal loss to the state exchequer. He said the grievous nature of the crime has been further compounded and internal security of the state greatly compromised by embezzlement of funds meant for procurement of arms and ammunitions and other security related equipments.
Tokheho said the DGP fraudulently withdrew money against fictitious bills, purportedly as cost of arms, ammunition, vehicles and other equipment for raising 6 Commando Companies during 2009-10. He said the scam was confirmed by furnished documental proofs such as vouchers and other official correspondences which indicated various anomalies.
The AG Nagaland in his confidential letters written to the five different firms for confirmation of the bills received, Ordinance Factory, Khamaria, Jabalpur, MP, Bridgegap Associates, New Delhi, Laggar Industries Limited, Jalandhar, Punjab, M/s Sanchar Telesystems Ltd, New Delhi and Tata Motors Ltd, Gauhati all confirmed that that the firms neither issued any bills or supplied materials to DGP Nagaland, the CLP leader said.
Careful scrutiny of the vouchers obtained from AG Nagaland and DGP Nagaland showed gross anomalies where Bill No and date and items were the same but with different signatures. In the r/o Ordinance Factory, Khamaria, Jabalpur amounting to Rs. 430.29 lakhs and Rs. 148.24 lakhs respectively, the signature of M.K. Mahapatra, Joint Manager were different. In r/o Bridgegap Associates, New Delhi amounting to Rs. 7,81,85,960/- the signature of the Manager were different. In r/o Laggar Industries Ltd, Jalandhar amounting to Rs. 15,00,1000/- the signatures of the Manager were different and in r/o Tata Motors Ltd, Gauhati amounting to Rs.2,02,09,996/- the signature of the Manager (Sales) were different.
Further, the mandatory entry of tax index number are found missing in all the Firms’ vouchers. In r/o Tata Motors Ltd, Gauhati, particulars of item and per unit cost of item No.3 were different and per unit cost difference was Rs. 8,57,887.50/- while for four units, a total difference comes to Rs.34,31,550/-. Similarly was the case with the r/o Laggar Industries Ltd, Jalandhar where the number of items and amount were different, the opposition added.
On the other hand, the three members Verification Committee led by H.K Khulu, Principal Secretary Agriculture & APC constituted by the government of Nagaland to verify the draft audit para report on the fraudulent drawal in its report admitted procedural irregularities but concluded that no intent of mischief in the procurement was found.
The opposition contested that by Public Accounts rule, when the C&AG report was tabled in the assembly, the matter was required to be referred to the Public Accounts Committee of the State Assembly for examination but which was not done. “It appears that in principle, the report of the verification Committee was accepted by the government of Nagaland and the chapter was treated as closed.”
Meanwhile, the opposition also furnished a copy of an RTI replies which stated that the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption has registered case No. RC-11/2011 at the Vigilance Police Station on Sept 16, 2010 for investigation of Rs.18 crore in the Police Department.
Congress walk-out ‘very unfortunate’: CM
State chief minister Neiphiu Rio termed the walk-out by the opposition Congress during the one day session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Thursday as “very unfortunate”. He remarked that the opposition had the habit of walking out, adding, they were not interested in discussing issues and sorting them out. Speaking after the Congress walk-out, the chief minister said the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) report has been tabled in the house and it was the duty of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to examine the matter.
Rio also pointed out that the PAC was not an investigating agency, but a committee to examine and take corrective measures. He said the committee, which also consisted of opposition members, has decided to check for spot verification and oral evidence. Meanwhile justifying his stand, NLA speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie said he disallowed the discussion as the matter was examined by PAC, which he added, was yet to submit its report to the house.
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