Dimapur, August 13: The Nagaland Lokayukta has granted prosecution sanction against two retired IAS officer – former Agriculture Production Commissioner & Chairman of Small famer’s Agri- Business Consortium (SFAC-N) Nagaland and former Managing Director SFAC (N).
An official release said a case was registered on 6/10/2018 against the then Secretary, Horticulture Department & Managing Director, SFAC (N) who had issued work order for the project ‘Post Harvest Management of Horticulture crops in Dimapur. Peren, Mokokchung,Tuensang, Phek and Wokha’ to a contractor without technical approval. The total amount of the project was Rs 717.90 lakhs and an amount of Rs 241.30 lakhs was released as 1st installment.
Payment was released to the contractor within four days after the work order was issued, when there was no urgency or justification to do so. The project was implemented in private lands instead of the Department’s land – based on the charges established against the officials and the contractor, said the official release.
Charge sheet was submitted to the Lokayukta, Nagaland for grant of prosecution sanction against the two retired IAS officers, which was granted on August 4, 2020 as per Section 26 of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act.
The chargesheet has been further submitted to the District & Session Judge & Special Judge, Nagaland Lokayukta on August 13 to proceed with the formal trial. (Page News Service)
