ITANAGAR, 11 Apr: The Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union (APCSU) has denied the claims of the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of Arunachal Pradesh and the Chakma Rehabilitation and Resettlement Committee (CRRC) with regard to the release of the APCSU’s fact-finding report on the Hollongi airport rehabilitation scam, which was published in this daily.
Responding to the SIC’s claim that it is awaiting persecution sanction from the authorities under Section 17 (A) (1) of the PC Act, 1988, APCSU president Rup Singh Chakma stated, “As per legal opinion given to us, at the stage of registration of the FIR for commencing inquiry, prior
sanction is not required either under Section 17 (A) (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act or Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Prior sanction is required only after completion of inquiry and at the stage of court taking cognisance of offences purported to be done in official duty following filing of the chargesheets. Misappropriation of funds for rehabilitation and resettlement of the 156 displaced Chakma families is not part of official duty and therefore, no prior sanction is required. Further, office bearers of the CRRC are not government officials and therefore, where is the question of the taking prior sanction for these private persons? Anyway, these are facts to be decided by the high court.”
On the CRRC’s contention that the APCSU’s fact-finding report is fake, Chakma stated: “Our fact-finding report is genuine and prepared and circulated by ex-president Drishya Muni Chakma. It is not for the CRRC to certify matters of another organisation. The SIC has clearly stated that sanction for prosecution has been sought based on its preliminary findings from the government of Arunachal Pradesh and therefore, the SIC itself is stating that the embezzlement of funds had taken place, confirming the allegations in our fact-finding report. The palace built by Bijay Ranjan Chakma too shall be placed on record before the competent authorities and courts for adjudication.”
