Shillong, Jan 5 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday dared the CBI to prosecute officials of the government-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for allowing the BJP to "misuse its funds for holding party rally".
Sangma's statement came after the central probe agency registered an FIR against his Cabinet colleague Ampareen Lyngdoh, Additional Chief Secretary P.S. Thangkhiew and some unknown persons for their alleged role in manipulation of score sheets in the recruitment of teachers during 2008-09.
Lyngdoh was the Education Minister and Thangkhiew the Principal Secretary in the same department when the alleged scam took place.
"NEEPCO officials should be prosecuted and that is where the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should go for inquiry. They have committed many such illegalities. They (CBI) should take suo motu cognizance of this," Sangma told journalists.
He recalled how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had "misused funds of NEEPCO" for celebrating the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's three years at the Centre, in Amlarem of the state.
"How can any government organisation help a political party hold a rally? It is a crime. They must refund the money," Sangma said.
Comparing the CBI with a caged parrot, the veteran Congress leader said: "There are instances which indicate that the authorities in Delhi are also trying to 'use' several other agencies, not just the CBI."
On the CBI registering the case against Thangkhiew, Sangma said: "Let the whole process proceed as per the law of land."
The case was registered on the order of Meghalaya High Court -- passed on November 2, 2017 -- that directed the CBI to take over the investigation of the case relating to alleged mass manipulations, tampering in score sheets and interference in selection for the posts of assistant teachers in lower primary schools during 2008-2009.
The high court also directed the CBI to conduct an inquiry into teachers' recruitments at another 10 centres and submit its report to the court within six months.
The Chief Minister exuded confidence that Lyngdoh and the officers would be able to defend themselves and prove their innocence.
