Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR : The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has announced a peaceful rally on July 6, demanding immediate action in two alleged multi-crore corruption cases linked to the state Fisheries Department and expressing concern over what it termed an inordinate delay in investigation and prosecution.
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Tuesday, JAC Issue Chairman Takam Chacha said the committee had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on June 11, followed by a one-week ultimatum seeking prompt action. However, he alleged that despite repeated representations, no meaningful progress had been made.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of the investigation, Chacha called for a fair, transparent and time-bound probe into the cases.
He said the matter relates to two First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Special Investigation Cell (Vigilance), Itanagar.
According to Chacha, FIR No. 01/2018 pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Fisheries Department between 2012-13 and 2016-17. He alleged that although the government had sanctioned Rs 16.37 crore, an additional Rs 35 crore was withdrawn, taking the total expenditure to over Rs 51.38 crore.
The second case, FIR No. 18/2024, was registered following observations in a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report regarding the alleged illegal withdrawal of Rs 183.13 crore from the Palin Treasury during the 2023-24 financial year without budgetary provision, administrative approval or expenditure authorisation.
Chacha claimed that the two cases together involve the alleged misappropriation of nearly Rs 277 crore of public funds under the Fisheries Department.
He alleged that despite registration of the FIRs, no charge sheets had been filed and sought clarity on the status of the investigations, including the delay in custodial interrogation, prosecution and recovery of the allegedly misappropriated funds. He also questioned whether all persons named in the cases had been investigated impartially and whether assets linked to the alleged offences had been identified or frozen.
Announcing the July 6 protest, Chacha said the rally would begin at Akashdeep and culminate at IG Park in Itanagar. He said the demonstration aims to urge the State Government and the Special Investigation Cell/Anti-Corruption Bureau (SIC/ACB) to ensure a transparent and time-bound investigation into the alleged scams.
The JAC demanded immediate suspension of officials found prima facie involved in the alleged irregularities, identification and freezing of bank accounts and assets linked to the cases in accordance with due legal process, a comprehensive investigation into the money trail, recovery of the allegedly misappropriated public funds, expeditious completion of the investigations with filing of charge sheets, and publication of an Action Taken Report (ATR).
Chacha warned that if no concrete action follows the proposed rally, the committee would be compelled to intensify its democratic agitation in accordance with the law.
