ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Jun 7: Special Investigation Cell (SIC) on Monday has arrested two government officials on charges of corruption. 
The erring officials namely DFO Banderdewa HB Abo and RFO Rilin Ngulom allegedly demanded 20% bribe from a contractor to release his pending bills.
This was informed today by Superintendent of Police, SIC( Vigilance) Dr Hemant Tiwari through a press release. Based on a written complaint received on June 3 last from one Nabam Akam, that the duo had demanded and thereafter realised the bribe amount of Rs 56,000 out of his total pending bill for the work done under CAMPA scheme, the SIC (Vigilance) lodged a PS case (No. 07/2021 u/s 120(B) IPC r/w Sec 7 of PC (Amendment) Act, 2018) dated June 7, 2021.
As per the content of the complaint letter, Nabam Akam won the tender work for raising tall Avenue Plants (1.5 mts ) with bamboo guard with a spacing of 5 meter under the CAMPA scheme during 2018-19 for an amount of Rs.7 lakh in the name of M/s N.R. Enterprise. After the work was completed in 2020 the DFO made a payment of 60%, keeping the remaining 40% pending. The complainant then kept on visiting the office of the DFO Banderdewa several times in connection with realisation of the pending portion of the payment. On 24 April last he went to the DFO office and met the RFO who then made it clear that the pending bill will be passed only if a bribe (20% out of the total pending bill amount) is paid, adding that he had been strictly instructed by the DFO Banderdewa to collect 20% bribe from all contractors, otherwise, no bills will be processed and no cheques will be issued.
Realising that shady deals of this kind are rampant in the DFO office, the complainant on 25 April last 'equipped' himself to expose the  practice of corruption. Keeping the video recording option on in his mobile, he recorded the entire transaction/discussion with the RFO. He requested to reduce the percentage but the RFO was adamant and demanded a complete deposit of the said 20% as bribe, unknowingly disclosing along with that the bribe will be divided among the DFO and other office staff. The complainant under compulsion gave Rs.56,000 to the DFO through the RFO. In the meantime, the RFO passed his bill and sent to the DFO for final signing of the cheque.
On 29 May last, the complainant went to the DFO to ascertain whether he really had directed the RFO to collect 20% from the bills of contractors or not. He followed the same strategy and while entering the office kept his mobile set in his shirt pocket with video recording mode on to record the ensuing conversation. Without  having the slightest of idea that he is under surveillance, the DFO admitted that it is an established practice to cut 20% of the bill amount to be distributed later among all the officers.
The SP, SIC further informed that a pendrive containing three video footages and voice recordings have been included in the investigation process as evidence. After obtaining approval from the competent authority, the two officials were arrested  observing all codal formalities and were forwarded to the TRIHMS for medical check-up including Covid-19 test, the SP stated.

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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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