Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Jun 12: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has demanded immediate action against the alleged two multi-crore corruption cases linked to the State Fisheries Department. It has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) expressing concern over the delay in investigation and prosecution of the cases.
Addressing a press conference here today, JAC Issue Chairman Takam Chacha voiced dissatisfaction over what he described as the slow pace of action in the cases and called for a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation.
According to the JAC, the memorandum refers to two cases registered by the Special Investigation Cell (Vigilance), Itanagar. “The first, FIR No. 01/2018, relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Fisheries Department during the period from 2012-13 to 2016-17. While the government had sanctioned Rs 16.37 crore, an additional Rs 35 crore was allegedly withdrawn, resulting in total expenditure exceeding Rs 51.38 crore,” Chacha claimed.
The memorandum also cites FIR No. 18/2024, registered following findings in a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report regarding the alleged illegal withdrawal of Rs 183.13 crore from the Palin Treasury during the 2023-24 financial year without budgetary provision, administrative approval or expenditure authorization.
Chacha alleged that despite the registration of FIRs and the passage of considerable time, no significant prosecution has been initiated and chargesheets have yet to be filed in the cases.
Questioning the delay in custodial interrogation, investigation, prosecution and recovery of allegedly misappropriated public funds, he sought clarity on the progress made by the investigating agencies.
He further stated that the memorandum raises concern over whether all individuals named in the cases had been investigated impartially, whether assets linked to the alleged offences had been traced or frozen, and what measures had been taken to recover losses suffered by the state exchequer.
Expressing concern over the prolonged delay in the investigative process, Chacha urged the state government and the SIC (now, Anti-Corruption Bureau) to ensure a transparent and time-bound probe.
The organization has served a one-week ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate suspension of officials found prima facie involved in the alleged scams, identification and freezing of bank accounts and assets linked to the cases subject to due legal process, a comprehensive investigation into the money trail, recovery of public funds, expeditious completion of investigations and filing of chargesheets, and publication of an Action Taken Report (ATR) within seven days time.
The JAC leader warned that failure to take appropriate action within the stipulated period may compel the organisation to launch democratic movement.