Guwahati, Oct 8: The Assam CM Vigilance Cell on Friday re-arrested Congress MLA from Baghbor constituency, Sherman Ali, in connection with alleged MLA fund embezzlement to the tune of over Rs. 25 lakh.
The MLA was arrested under Case No 2/2021 registered by the Chief Minister Vigilance Cell. The CM Vigilance Cell has sought for 5-day custody of Sherman Ali.
Recently, Guwahati police arrested Ali from his residence in Dispur’s MLA Hostel for making “communal and provocative” remarks.
Ali in a statement justified the killing of eight people in Darrang district in 1983 during the Assam agitation, who were declared “martyrs” and he termed them as “killers”.
Fund embezzlement of over Rs. 25 lakh
A press statement issued by CM Special Vigilance Cell stated that a Regular Enquiry conducted by the enquiry officer found that an amount of Rs. 25,08,323 government fund was misappropriated in connivance and collusion of the officials and staff of Mandia Development Block without execution of works for 14 roads under MLALAD scheme under Baghbar Legislative Assembly Constituency.
The total sanctioned amount was Rs. 65 lakhs out of which the Joint verification team comprising of a team of experts from PWD(Roads) found that Rs. 25,08,323 was loss incurred from Government exchequer due to misappropriation of funds.
“On the basis of above a criminal case against several government officers and members of construction committees and others who were found involved in the criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of government fund was registered on 04.06.2021. In this connection, approval was accorded by the Chief Minister of Assam and the case was registered Vide Vigilance PS case No.02/2021 U/S 120 (B)/406/420/409/468/471 IPC RMW Sec. 13 (2) PC Act,” the Vigilance Cell said.
7 accused arrested including Ali
During investigation, sufficient evidences were found against seven accused named in the FIR, out of which 6 were arrested by police on June 28, 2021 and forwarded to judicial custody.
They have been identified as- Jadav Chandra Choudhury, the then Block Development Officer, Cum Secretary of Construction Committee, Mandia Development Block; Md. Ainur Rahman, Junior Engineer cum Technical Member, Construction Committee, Mandia Development Block; Abdur Rezzak, President of Construction Committee; Sahjamal Ali, President of Construction Committee; Mujahidur Rahman, President of Construction Committee; Md. Yusufur Rahman, Block Development Officer cum Secretary, Construction Committee.
“The investigation of the case also led to the fact that accused Sherman Ali, MLA, Baghbar LAC criminally conspired with the other co-accused persons as well as the arrested accused persons in the misappropriation of government funds meant for developmental works under the Mandia Development Block. Thus upon finding sufficient documentary and material evidences against Sherman Ali, MLA, Baghbar LAC, he was arrested in Vigilance PS Case No. 02/2021 U/S U/S 120 (B)/406/420/409/468/471 IPC R/W Sec. 13 (2) PC Act and brought in police custody for 5 days today. We have already intimated regarding his arrest to the Commissioner of Assam State Legislative Assembly with a request to apprise the Hon’ble Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Assam, Dispur. The investigation of the case is on,” the press release stated.
