Hajela accused of misappropriation of funds

Guwahati: The Assam Public Works, an NGO, on Thursday filed an FIR with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against former Assam NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela.

Though the CBI is yet to take the cognisance and conduct any preliminary investigation, the APW, in its FIR demanded a high-level probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds and corruption by the then NRC coordinator.

The FIR referred some specific points for investigation, that included the appointment of retired government servants as advisors to Hajela.

“What type of work is done by these advisors is not known as no records are available in this regard,” the FIR stated while pointing out that the funds spent on preparing NRC has not been audited by CAG.

It further claimed that no remuneration has been paid to the teachers who were engaged in the process of updating the NRC.

The APW also alleged huge financial irregularities in purchasing laptops, different electronic gadgets and electric generators.

In the process of updating NRC, the ministry of home affairs had released about `1,600 crores to the authorities.  

It is significant that the ruling party in Assam has asked the government not to release Hajela as long as he does not give an account of the expenditure incurred in the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The Supreme Court ordered his immediate transfer to Madhya Pradesh “for the maximum period permissible under the relevant rules/regulations” after he had told the court about insecurity to his life.

Assam BJP president Ranjit Kumar Das said, “We must honour the order of the Supreme Court. However, the government should not release Hajela till he submits documentary proofs of expenditure of `1,600 crores incurred. Hajela has already been released by the Assam government to join his home state Madhya Pradesh.