DHEMAJI: A criminal case has been registered against executive councillor of Mising Autonomous Council (MAC) in Assam – Raju Medok.
Medok has allegedly misappropriated public money worth more than 60 lakh sanctioned under Social Welfare department for construction of nine Model Anaganwadi centres at different rural areas under Jonai ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) block in Dhemaji district.
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As per the allegation, the accused councillor is the chairman of the ‘Constituency Level Construction Committee’ and entrusted to monitor the construction activities of the Model Anganwadi centres, but he has allegedly pocketed Rs 60.75 lakh by transferring the money into his own bank account adopting unfair means.
The District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) of Dhemaji in Assam, following a complaint received from Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu, conducted an inquiry into the alleged irregularity in the construction of model anganwadi centre and traced the financial embezzlement.
The DSWO later filed an FIR with Jonai Police during December last year and demanded a high level probe by the state’s Bureau of Economic Offence to unearth the facts.
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Meanwhile, a case (No. 159/2023) under sections 406/420/409/34 of IPC has been registered and taken up for investigation.
The investigating officer of the case said he has found prima facie evidence of the complaints in the case and making charge frame of public money misappropriation against the accused.
“We have traced evidence to charge the accused under the non-boilable sections and are searching for him to arrest. But, the accused is found absconding”, said Jonai SDPO Pranjit Lahkar (i/o of the case), who was reluctant to disclose more about the ongoing investigation.
Accused councilor Raju Medok, who is a native of Jonai sub division under the district is also Secretary General of Mising Baane Kebang (Apex body).
Moreover, he has been working as President of Adi-Mising Baane Kebang, a joint Socio-cultural organization of the Adis (Arunachal Pradesh) and Mising tribe (Assam).
The corruption and financial irregularities allegedly committed by councillor Medok has evoked sharp reaction among local people of Dhemaji district as well as the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu has urged the law enforcing authorities to award exemplary punishment to the ‘corrupt’ councillor.
He also demanded the chief executive councillor of MAC in Assam to initiate disciplinary action against the accused member.