Judge to head scam inquiry

SHILLONG, OCT 20: The District Council court judge will be heading the magisterial inquiry into the illegal transfer of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) council’s fund of Rs 2 crore to private bank accounts. KHADC on Thursday appointed the judge while directing the former Secretary to the EC of the KHADC Welljune Syiemlieh to cooperate with the inquiry committee as per the service rules.

The magisterial inquiry was instituted following the demand of MDCs during the just concluded autumn session of the KHADC on Wednesday.

Addressing newsmen after the executive committee meeting held on Thursday, KHADC CEM PN Syiem said the inquiry will be headed by S Kharsyiemlieh, Judge of the District Council Court along with First Class Magistrate SB Laitthma.

“The term of reference of the inquiry will be to probe into the alleged misappropriation of council’s funds and submit a report within a period two months,” Syiem informed. He added that the inquiry committee has been asked to also suggest to the executive committee on the legal proceedings against anybody found involved in the scam.

Syiem said that the former secretary of the EC has to cooperate with the inquiry committee which is as per the service rules.

The Rs 2 crore, which is the revenue generated by the KHADC as professional tax collected from two districts – Ri Bhoi District and West Khasi Hills District- was illegally transferred to private bank accounts from 2013 to 2016.

However the bank statements received by the KHADC revealed that the private bank accounts belong to the former Secretary to the Council’s EC Welljune Syiemlieh and the Khasi Heritage Conservation Forum (KHCF).

Admitting that former secretary had failed in his functioning, Syiem said that the money transferred was done without following proper procedure.

“I was shocked that the Rs 35 lakh was transferred to the KHCF not from the main bank account of the KHADC,” he said while recalling that after agreeing to sanction loan to the KHCF, the letter was accordingly endorsed to former Secretary.

He however informed the letter he sent was nowhere to be found in record adding the inquiry committee will also look into this aspect.-By Our Reporter