SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on August 25, said there is no scam in the purchase of 29 vehicles by Assistant Inspector General of Police (A) GK Iangrai in the findings of the enquiry committee, as they were purchased as per procedures and norms that are laid down.
“I don’t see where this word ‘scam’ has to come in, it is like using fancy words trying to change the narrative of the whole thing. It doesn’t work that way. It should go with the facts,” Sangma said while speaking to reporters.
“Yes, there could have been issues about allotment, yes there could be some delay or some other things but that doesn’t convert the entire situation to scams. Therefore, let us wait and see the report but preliminary that is what it looks like,” he added.
On the action to be taken against the police official if found guilty of “misusing” his authority, the chief minister said, “We will enquire into the aspects of everything but it is not a question of misusing of power…We will see how it goes.”
In its report, the fact finding team of the police, headed by Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) MK Singh, said that a total of 29 vehicles were in personal custody of AIG (A) before April 2022 without any orders from the competent authority.
Amongst these, one new Scorpio, one new Bolero, two new Swift Desire and two new Bajaj Motor Cycles have not been allotted registration numbers due to non-supply of documents by AIG A. And, also for the fact that most of them do not have the latest mandatory BS VI standards and as such they do not comply to the directions of Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highway…which is a clear-cut violation of norms.
In addition to the above, a total number of eight new Bajaj Pulsar 150 cc motor cycles, which were purchased in the year 2019, could not be registered since no documents are available. One Hyundai Verna which is parked at Central Workshop has been allotted a fake number and no registration of the vehicle was done by AIG A since no documents are available.
Further, the following vehicles have not been allotted to any officer and as such have been kept as pool vehicles or allotted to officers or units.
The statement of seven police personnel, who were working with AIG A, were also recorded. Perusal of their statements, revealed that the delivery of most of the vehicles procured by PHQ under various heads were personally managed by AIG A through various people attached to him. These vehicles were then taken directly on his orders to either Police Officer Mess or MPRO complex where they were kept and the keys of all these vehicles were kept in his official residence.
Their statements also revealed a lot of crucial facts which point at glaring mismanagement and misuse of power by AIG A.
“Often, these vehicles without any registration were used for his personal purpose without any sanction from Police Headquarters. No log books were ever maintained for these vehicles even though POL/DOL coupons were issued by AIG A himself on a regular basis,” the report said.
The report also said that the conduct of AIG A in the entire matter reflects gross negligence of duties and his conduct in the entire matter is unbecoming of an officer.
Meanwhile, the fact finding team suggested the need for a departmental enquiry to be constituted against all erring officials to fix the responsibilities for all the lapses that have occurred.
“A high-level fact-finding enquiry should be formed to go into the details of the entire scam, since this enquiry report may not reflect the entire magnitude of the scam,” it said.
It further suggested a comprehensive SOP should be prepared for procurement of vehicles, handing over, and taking over records maintained at more than one place for cross verification of records.
“Prima facie, it has to be acknowledged and accepted that record keeping in the department is very poor and as such there is a need for proper overhauling of the mechanism of record keeping. Considering these loopholes, this leads to mismanagement and various malpractices as manifested in this instant case.
“The Central Workshop, Bishnupur, as it caters to all units of Meghalaya Police, should be placed directly under the supervision of an officer not below the rank of the DIG. A proper mechanism be put in place for expediting the condemnation process of vehicles. Capacity building of the existing manpower at CWS and identifying new talents from different units so that they can cater to minor repairs at their respective units.
“Streamlining of the entry and exit register needs to be done so that there is a proper record of vehicles kept at CWS. The security of Central Motor Workshop, Bishnupur needs to be reviewed and an SOP should be issued in this regard,” it further suggested.