ES Reporter

NAHARLAGUN, Aug 9:  Guwahati High Court Itanagar Bench has again fixed September 14 next for hearing of PIL  No.13/2022 ( Kaku Potom vs State of Arunachal Pradesh) related to the alleged Rs. 142 crore scam under the central project of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) in Arunachal Pradesh filed by one  Kaku Potom.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the High Court on Tuesday, Advocate Mehmood Pracha informed that, today there was debate regarding the maintainability & merits of this Public Interest Litigation (PIL) but the State Advocate General (SAG) has submitted a single-page reply to the Court on August 8 last after which the court has directed the SAG to file affidavit of all the documents of government officials involved in the corruption charges under DDUGJY  within two weeks and fixed September 14 for the next hearing.
“As per the letter of the State Advocate General submitted to the court it is clear that the state government is trying to shield the corrupt officers by denying any kind of sanction against the official," claimed Pracha.
Pracha further said that a rejoinder has been filed with details of the incomplete work of three districts Tawang, West Kameng and Namsai under the DDUGJY projects. "All the documents which were filed appear to be forged & the power of attorney of DNG company and its notary signatures were also forged. So now we have much more evidence to stand strong on our PIL," he said.
Meanwhile, he also disclosed that Petitioner Kaku Potom is getting threats from an unknown person pressurizing him to withdraw the case.  “We cannot disclose more about the threat calls, but  I can say that the public of Arunachal Pradesh should stand with people like Kaku Potom who is standing strong against corruption. We will go up to the Supreme Court to bring justice against this corruption," Pracha said.
In its order, the court stated that  Advocate General(acting), Arunachal Pradesh, has produced before this Court, a copy of the letter, dated 08.08.2022, written to the Secretary(Power), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, by the Commissioner, Vigilance, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, vide Memo. No. VIG[1]72/2022/736, which is a letter, conveying the approval of the competent authority for acceptance of the report submitted by the Department and closing the matter on the issue related to a complaint on alleged irregularities in the Deendayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana(DDUGJY) scheme by the Executive Engineer(E), Bomdila, Namsai and Tawang, which is the subject-matter of this Public Interest Litigation(PIL).

On perusal of the aforesaid letter, dated 08.08.2022, it is noticed that the competent authority has approved for acceptance of the report submitted by the Department on examination of the point-wise allegations of the complainant and the reports/explanations/ clarifications along with the supporting documents.

However, the various letters referred  in the letter, dated 08.08.2022, as well as on the basis of which report or explanation, which have been purportedly perused by the competent authority for closure of the matter, has not been enclosed with the letter. In view of the above, Hon’ble court direct the respondent authorities more particularly, the Commissioner, Vigilance, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, to file an affidavit enclosing the entire materials on the basis of which, the letter, dated 08.08.2022, was written to the Secretary(Power), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, by the Commissioner, Vigilance, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, vide Memo. No. VIG-72/2022/736, with an advance copy furnished to Mr. Pracha.
Public Interest Litigation (13/2022) was filed in the Guwahati  High Court –Itanagar Bench before Justice SK Medhi and Justice Kakheto Sema praying for registering a criminal case as well as a judicial inquiry on the mismanagement of funds meant for the project under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna (DDUGJY) pertaining to three districts -- West Kameng, Tawang and Namsai worth Rs. 142.74  crore.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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