Nagaland HC construction: CBI probe ordered into allegation of fund misuse

The Gauhati High Court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations of misappropriation of public money regarding the construction of a new High Court Complex at Kohima.

A bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Prashanta Kumar Deka issued the order while disposing a PIL and asked the Central investigating agency to submit a report within three months to the Registrar General of this High Court. The Chief Justice in his order also directed that if the CBI is of the view that there is any material to support the allegations, it will take action as per law by registering First Information Report etc. and the State Government shall fully co-operate with the investigation.

According to the allegation, the foundation stone for an independent High Court for Nagaland was laid at Meriema in the year, 2007 but it is yet to be completed. It was also alleged that while the amount for construction has exceeded the original estimate by Rs 9.63 Crores, there were also some serious allegations of misappropriation of funds. “From March, 2009 to March, 2017, there were 18 withdrawals and the amount increased to Rs 52.63 crores against the original estimate of Rs 43 crores. Some of the Social and RTI Activists’ of Nagaland have also sent a petition to the High Court stating inter alia that Rs 22.42 crores has been withdrawn against the construction of the Judges Bungalow whereas there is not even an area earmarked for the same. Similarly, an amount of Rs 44,24,700/- has been withdrawn against electrification and water supplies, whereas the basic structure of the building is yet to completed. Besides, Rs 1.30 crores has been paid as consultancy fee which is also beyond belief and after exhaustion of the entire money,” the order said.