Dimapur, June 17 (EMN): The Naga Hoho has stated that the case of a former Nagaland police official, MKR Pillai, being investigated for alleged tax evasion and possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income only reflects the “standards” of the governance in Nagaland.
The organisation issued a press release on Saturday noting the ongoing case where MKR Pillai, retired additional superintendent of Nagaland police and former consultant to the Nagaland DGP, is being investigated for tax evasion and for possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The case has put under the scanner “the way in which he managed to manipulate the system in Nagaland while serving in the police department and rose to such an influential position against all norms,” the Naga Hoho stated.
But, the press release stated, it is “hardly surprising” and something that was inevitable considering the abysmal state of affairs in Nagaland.
“This case is perhaps just the tip of the iceberg and indicative of the standards of governance in our state,” the organisation stated.
Naga organisations and concerned citizens have raised questions at the Police department and the politicians in the past with regard to the power and influence that has been enjoyed by Pillai in the department, the organisation reminded.
The Naga Hoho noted that “running various businesses in different parts of the country or amassing of wealth” did not happen overnight. It was over a period of time since his appointment as a constable and throughout his rapid rise to power, the press release stated.
The organisation has called for attention of every concerned Naga to deliberate on how government servants “seem to be indulging in business and contract work etc.,” while service rules are very clear on this aspect.
Such activities by the Nagaland government servants create situations where the conflict of interests that arises only breeds corruption and poor governance, it stated.
The organisation stated. “It is a wake-up call for the state government to discipline the government servants, be it Nagas or outsiders. The picture that is emerging is one of a totally unrestrained scam of enormous magnitude stretching across the last decade or so. All the ingredients are there among others, abuse of official position; misappropriation of government funds; misuse of government property; money laundering; and benami transactions.”
The Naga Hoho also noted the termination of the consultancy contract of Pillai with the Police department and the Vigilance Commission’s registration of the case specifically on his appointment as consultant–and not for any misuse of his official position for personal benefit.
This, the organisation observed, seems to have been provoked only in reaction to the widespread media coverage and commentary on social media on the case.
The Vigilance Commission will do well to initiate investigation not only on the issue of the consultancy contract but also into the whole issue of massive corruption that has emerged, the press release stated.
‘In fact, every sensible person and organizations, including Vigilance Commission, are well aware of which officer or departments in Nagaland have been involved in corruptions and have embezzled public funds on a level similar, if not more, to Pillais case over the years.’
If Nagaland is even to have any hope for a better tomorrow, what we need is for the state’s government to ensure that the trial for Pillai’s corruption “which leads to our own backyard” is investigated in its entirety and tackled without any compromise whatsoever, it stated.
The Naga Hoho has appealed to the state’s government to take appropriate steps to ensure that all the ‘illegitimate’ activities of Pillai allegedly carried out during both his active career and as consultant to the Police department are fully exposed. He is to be brought to justice for his actions, the organisation stated.
“Only if this is done will it act as a deterrent in future to those who may try and misuse their position for their own personal gain and benefit,” it added. “In this regard, the Naga Hoho fervently appeal the state government to set up a neutral High level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate into various allegations against MKR Pillai even without the help of CBI so as to deliver justice to the people.”
