Shillong, February 10: Just ahead of the February 24 district councils election, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) chief executive member Madonbai Rymbai is in trouble as an RTI findings had indicated misappropriation of over Rs 1.15 crore released by the state government for land acquisition and implementation of the proposed Jowai Bye Pass and also the forgery of land documents belonging to the Lumpohsiej locality in Khliehtyrshi village.
The RTI activists of the village have demanded inquiry into the misappropriation by the CBI and state police beside legal action against Rymbai.
The activists said that the RTI findings, filed by them, reveals that Madonbai Rymbai in connivance with the members of the Dorbar Shnong of Khliehtyrshi village has misappropriated over Rs 1.15 crore released by the West Jaintia Hills District Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) since September 27, 2010.
The members of the dorbar shnong, who are party to the scam, includes headmen, Kitbok Rymbai, who is also the CEM’s younger brother, village chairman Emdor Rymbai and former village headman Dr W Ryngkhlem.
The RTI report revealed that the funds (Rs 1.15 crore) for land compensation had been withdrawn in the name of the CEM, who is currently the sitting MDC of Khliehtyrshi.
In the withdrawal receipts, the land measuring 34, 270 square meters which originally belonged to the Lumpohsiej locality was also illegally forged and change to ‘Madonbai Rymbai Football Ground Dorbar Khliehtyrshi’ without the consent of the local authority.
RTI activists – Deimon Phawa, Arlin Dkhar and Friday Sana filed an FIR in Jowai police station on Monday demanding the arrest of the JHADC CEM and the three other functionaries of the village for their alleged illegal and corrupt acts.
“We have lodged an FIR against the four people including the CEM for alleged embezzlement of public money based on report of the RTI,” Phawa told reporters at a news conference on Monday. He alleged that these people have abuse the authority of the Executive Committee of the Dorbar Shnong of Khliehtyrshi by keeping the money released by the government a secret from the residents of the village.”
Phawa informed several attempts were made by issuing show-cause notices to the CEM and the village headman demanding a clear cut clarification about money which was hidden from the residents but they did not respond.
According to Phawa, the Rs 1.15 crore which Rymbai had withdrawn is public money and belongs to the dorbar shnong of Khliehtyrshi and Lumpohsiej locality. He said, “As per RTI report, Rymbai was authorized to collect only the money from the revenue department and to return the same to the Dorbar Shnong which he has not done till date and instead kept this money in his custody since September 29, 2010 which is a clear case of theft, misappropriation and embezzlement of the money.”
Arlin Dkhar alleged that the land for which the compensation was paid was also illegally registered under the name of the CEM without the knowledge of the residents of Lumpohsiej locality.
According to the locality head Kel Phawa, the Lumpohsiej locality was completely unaware of the matter. “He said, We were never informed about the money and that the land was illegally registered under the name of the MDC and were shocked to learn about it when the RTI report was made public to us in a meeting convened recently.”
Phawa said the locality authority was never informed even at the time when the survey was being conducted for land acquisition for implementing the Jowai Bye Pass. He said, “We strongly protest against such acts and demand that the money be return to the dorbar shnong.”
The RTI activists has demanded for CBI investigation into the alleged embezzlement of public money by the CEM and his aides. Another activist Dkhar said that they would soon submit a letter to the CBI and wants the law to ensure such corrupt people are not spared.
Denying any political game behind the RTI expose, the activists said they only wanted to ensure that the rights and welfare of the people are not exploited.- By Our Reporter
The RTI activists who had exposed the corrupt practise by our so called leaders at the helm need to be patted on their back. These leaders deserve punitive punishment for their misdeeds.