Dimapur, May 23 (EMN): In a major development, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has assured to come up with its branch office soon in Nagaland. CBI has made this assurance to the officials of Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) on May 21 during a talk with the DIG and SP CBI at Guwahati in Assam.
A NPRAAF press release issued by its media cell stated that the forum had raised issue pertaining to a case registered on May 21 in connection with the alleged corruption case in the construction of Nagaland High Court complex in which the Gauhati High Court had set a three-month deadline for the investigating agency to probe and submit a report.
It stated that the CBI officials had asked the forum to be in regular touch with CBI and share information to which the latter agreed. CBI officials also agreed to examine the matters brought up by the NPRAAF in its representation and assured to take action on those erring officials besides agreeing to hold another meeting.
The interaction was held following submission of a representation to the joint director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), North East zone.
In a representation, NPRAAF stated that the forum has been crusading against corruption and exposing corruption in Nagaland government establishment for over two years. However, NPRAAF stated that it has certain limitation as a voluntary organisation to persecute and punish the culprit even if prima facie is established.
The forum urged the CBI joint director to consider its representation in setting up of a branch office at Dimapur to act as deterrent so that public fund is not mis-utilised at will and take prompt action against the corrupt.
The representation also highlighted a brief history of Nagaland since its inception as a state on December 1, 1963, and the constitutional guarantee under Article 371 A of the constitution in respect of religious and social practices, Naga customary law and practises, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law and ownership and transfer of land and its resources.
The forum stated that apart from these privileges, the state comes under the purview of all other Acts of the Government of India including the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 extending to whole of India, including Nagaland.
The NPRAAF alleged that on account of a wrong notion, laws enforced in other parts of India were not applicable in Nagaland as successive state governments had indulged in rampant corruption, siphoning funds received from central government meant for the welfare of the people leaving the state completely under deplorable condition.
The forum said, ‘except making hue and cry through media, people are helpless when various scams were highlighted in the media in departments like law & justice, roads & bridges, irrigation & flood control, health, industries, food & civil supplies, NSMDC, rural development, education, police, finance, etc, involving several thousand crore of rupees.’
It also pointed out that even Enforcement Directorate had recovered huge cash from the residence of former additional SP, MKR Pillai in Kerala in connection with swindling of police modernisation fund.
Though the news was flashed across national media, nothing really happened as politicians and officials were hand in glove with the accused, it alleged.
NPRAAF further alleged that INR 365 crore given to the state as a one-time grant by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as “peace bonus” after converting it from “ways-and-means” loan as announced on June 8, 2003, to take forward the peace process has been siphoned off. It said that the grant was made so that Nagaland could devote its efforts to schemes and policies aimed at poverty alleviation and balanced economic development, besides saving an annual interest of INR 44 crore of the state, it added.
NPRAAF alleged that the entire amount was siphoned off and nothing was done on the ground. It demanded that the scam ought to be unearthed and culprits put behind bars.
The forum pointed out that though CBI has been probing graft cases in Nagaland for quite some time now, the outcome has been dismal due to absence of CBI special courts across the state. It also stated that courts that were spread all over the state were amalgamated into one special judge court at Dimapur in 2003-2004 for the convenience of the special judge, who could not travel across the state to adjudicate cases, after which there was not much progress of the CBI cases.
The situation became worse after the lone local CBI special counsel relinquished the post in 2007 and a CBI special counsel from Imphal was assigned for CBI cases in Nagaland, it stated.
Taking into consideration of the above stated circumstances, NPRAAF has sought the CBI to establish its branch office in Dimapur. It also stressed on the importance of having an experienced local advocate with immaculate track record in the profession to be special counsel of CBI to tackle all high-profile cases and convict those guilty of offences committed without any fear or favour.
Assuring CBI of its assistance to unearth all forms of corruption that have plagued the state for decades without any compunction, NPRAAF has demanded the former to fulfil the aspiration of the people of Nagaland by ensuring rule of law. The forum also assured to provide all necessary assistance to set up a CBI office at Dimapur – from indentifying suitable land to donating a land, if necessary.
