The All East Kameng District Students’ Union (AEKDSU) has questioned “the SIC’s integrity in the Seppa-Chayang Tajo NEC road fraud,” alleging that the vigilance department’s Special Investigation Cell (SIC) is making arrests “pick and choose.”
The AEKDSU requested to know why the SIC is not making arrests. The remaining suspects in the multi-billion-dollar swindle
“We demand that all of the accused participating in the swindle be arrested right away.” The law applies to everyone. Why is the SIC detaining people at random? Why is the main contractor, Gammon India Pvt Ltd, exempt?”
Chakang Yangda, president of the AEKDSU, stated this at a press conference here on Thursday. Yangda asked to know the current state of the investigation into the scam, pleading with the SIC to speed the inquiry.
While welcoming Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s announcement of an additional Rs 20 crores for the Seppa-Chayang Tajo road, the union urged the state government to “come out with clarity on the status of the balance amount of Rs 21 crores.”
“We would like the authority or the government to give a clear picture on the balance amount of Rs 21 crores. Where is the mentioned amount parked?” Yangda said, claiming that the implementing agency, the PWD, “is unable to tell the fate of the balance amount.”
The AEKDSU also said that there are some sub-contractors who are yet to be paid. “If the department starts paying debts from the Rs 20 crores, how would this project be completed?” it demanded to know.
The union also asked donations from district legislators worried about the construction of the Seppa-Chayang Tajo route as soon as possible.
Each legislator should contribute their share for early completion of the road,” Yangda said, adding that the legislators concerned “should take ownership of the project in their respective constituencies.”
East Seppa, Bameng, and Chayang Tajo assembly constituencies are served by the Seppa-Chayang Tajo road.
The AEDKSU chastised numerous Nyishi community-based organisations for disregarding the Seppa-Chayang Tajo road issue without naming them.
According to AEKDSU general secretary Pritom Yangfo, despite the fact that Rs 150 crores had been spent on the 83-kilometer length, “no adequate execution has been done thus far.” He went on to say that the SIC “is dragging its feet on the probe.”
When approached, SIC SP Hemant Tiwari denied any softening of the other suspected culprits. “The SIC vehemently refutes any suggestions of going soft on investigation or selectively arresting persons,” he stated.
“We request all the stakeholders to cooperate with us, so that the entire scam can be unearthed and justice can be delivered,” Tiwari added.
“The SIC is investigating this matter professionally and thoroughly. There are many more individuals (government servants, concessionaires and private individuals) whose roles are under the scanner in this case. But arrests cannot be effected merely on suspicion. We are in the process of collecting sound evidence,” he stated.
The SP further said: “As everyone is aware, the work of this road started in 2008-09 and has been continuing ever since then. It involves a lot of paper trail, accounts trail, etc.”
“As per the requirements of the investigation, more arrests will be effected, following due process of law,” the SP said.
The SIC launched a preliminary investigation into Gammon India Ltd’s alleged theft of money in the road’s construction and lodged the case as a regular case [u/s 120 (b)/420/465/471/409 IPC, r/w Section 13 (1) HO (d) & 13 (2) PC Act, 1988].
In connection with the scam, the SIC has detained four people: a superintendent engineer, two executive engineers, and a firm’s supporting staffer.
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