Jorhat: A team of CID officials on Tuesday conducted an investigation at the historic
Athkhelia Namghar (Vaishnavaite monastery) in Golaghat district in connection with five cases of financial anomalies registered with the investigating agency .
A CID official engaged in the investigation said, "We have registered five cases and investigation is on. All the cases are on financial anomalies that took place in 2013-14. The then DC, three ADCs and then
Golaghat Municipal Board chairman are allegedly involved in the scam."
He added, "Funds worth Rs 2.02 crore were sanctioned for reconstruction and development of the namghar in different phases. But the money was allegedly misused by the construction committee. Moreover, an amount of Rs 75 lakh was released for constructing a community prayer hall and a tourist facilitation centre on the namghar premises but no such structure was found. During interrogation, members of the construction committee confessed that the said funds were used for renovating the namghar building only."
The CID has decided to engage technical experts to obtain a detailed report of expenditure incurred by the construction committee to unearth misuse of government funds, said another CID official.
The CID team also recorded the statements of locals besides those who filed complaints. The first police case was filed by
Tankeswar Saikia and Noren Bora of the locality against members of construction committee alleging misappropriation of government funds worth Rs 53 lakh. Police had registered the case under sections 403, 406, 420 and 34 of the IPC.
In October, 2016 a clash took place on the namghar premises, leaving many people injured for similar allegations. Later, police resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control.
Athkhelia Namghar is a prominent Vaishnavaite pilgrimage site in
Assam. It is located at
Bosa Gaon in Golaghat district. Ahom king Gada Pani constructed it in 1681. Thousands of devotees from across the state visit the place during 'bhada' month of Assamese calendar every year to offer prayers.
