Complaint against MLA

SHILLONG, MAR 22: Residents of Mawprem area today sought action against Shillong West legislator Paul Lyngdoh for allegedly misappropriating over Rs 55.80 lakh of public funds under the Special Urban Works Programme as revealed by an RTI report.

In an FIR submitted to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner KS Kropha, who is also the chief secretary, one Michael Pakyntein said, “We implore upon you to facilitate necessary investigation into these charges against Paul Lyngdoh and to ensure that justice prevails as per the law of the land expeditiously.”

He alleged that as per findings under the RTI Act, 2005 obtained from the Shillong Municipal Board, Lyngdoh had deliberately misused public funds in the supply of numerous utility items to his constituents in which the materials supplied and invoices raised thereafter “do not match”.

According to him, the receipts submitted to the Shillong Municipal Board have turned out to be “fake” as proven by declarations made by the respective shop owners.

“Preliminary findings as per RTI queries indicated that the amount of misappropriation by Lyngdoh amounts to around Rs 55.80 lakh, which we firmly believe is only the tip of the iceberg and hence prima facie substantial for criminal proceedings to be initiated against him,” he stated in the complaint.

Addressing a press conference, Pakyntein said at least three shop owners from where the materials/items were being purchased as indicated in the RTI, have given in written that the same were never supplied by them.

He also produced a letter from the proprietor of DR Enterprise, Thana Road Shillong which stated – “My shop had not sold any items which include Neelkamal plastic chairs (with arms/without arms) of Rs 18.90 lakh to the Chairman of Implementation Committee 18-West Shillong. I assured that someone had taken advantaged to misuse my cash memo and forged the handwriting and my signature.”

However, Pakyntein said that as per RTI, it has revealed that under the Special Urban Work Programme (SUWP) 2014-15, a total of 2000 plastic chairs (with arms/without arms) was purchased at a cost of Rs 18.90 lakh on May 27, 2014.

He said during the same year, the MLA had also purchased water tanks and tarpaulins at a cost of Rs 19.80 lakh and cooking vessels at Rs 17.0 lakh, which the shop owners have also outrightly denied of making such supplies.

Another resident of the area Rishan Nongsiej alleged that the MLA had also purchased blankets at a cost of Rs 12 lakh.

“Interestingly, in paper it was shown that each blanket was bought at the rate of Rs 375. However, when we compared the same item with market rate it cost only Rs 150 thereby misusing amount of Rs 7.20 lakh,” he added.

He however said the owner of one Syiem’s Enterprise could not be reached for verifying the items amounting to Rs 75 lakh purchased by the MLA from him.

It is also interesting to note that all the residents, around four of them, who attended the press briefing held at the Shillong Press Club here, were also former supporters of the United Democratic Party (UDP) leader, Paul Lyngdoh.

Asked, they, however, denied that the move was “politically motivated” against the sitting legislator and maintained, “We have filed the RTI just to know the schemes being implemented in the constituency but in the process we found that there were many loopholes and so the complaint.”