A senior Meghalaya police officer, Gabriel Kitkupar Iangrai, was arrested on November 2 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly misappropriating funds in the construction of National Emergency Response System (NERS) Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) facility at Sadar police station complex.
During the investigation, simultaneous searches were conducted on the strength of the warrant issued by the court of the special judge (PC Act), Shillong at the residential premises of Iangrai at Lumshyiap, Chanmari, Upper Golf Links, Shillong 1, Official Quarter at Golf Links, and Farm House at Rtiang, Umsning, Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
“During the searches, many incriminating documents, cash and material objects were seized and Iangrai was arrested. Further investigation of the case continues,” inspector general of police (CID) O Pasi said.
Iangrai, who is the commandant of special force or SF-10, had moved the anticipatory bail application before the high court on November 1, but his legal counsel on November 2 prayed that the anticipatory bail may be withdrawn and accordingly the court dismissed the application.
A police officer said that the special investigating team of the CID found evidence “clearly” linking the senior police official to corrupt means.
“He diverted some of the fund into his personal account and submitted a falsified utilisation certificate of the project to the government,” a senior police officer said. The facility was being funded by the central government worth over Rs 95 lakh.
The embezzlement of public funds of Rs 35,35,793 by Iangrai was unearthed by a four-member team led by deputy inspector-general (eastern range) Davis Nestell R Marak during an inquiry into the construction of the NERS-PSAP building.
It was only after audit objections, Iangrai refunded Rs 26,85,389 back to the official AIG (A) account on September 19, 2022, but the remaining balance amount of Rs 8,50,404 is still in the personal custody of langrai.
The accused police officer has also been involved in a vehicle procurement scam in which the police officer bought 29 vehicles for the police department but allegedly didn’t hand it over to the department.
A PIL has been filed by a former diplomat Riewad Vicharwant Warjri and another citizen before the Meghalaya high court against the police officer for misusing public funds while purchasing the vehicles for the department.
On November 2, the Meghalaya government submitted a detailed affidavit and accompanying report on the matter to the high court. The report appended to the affidavit filed by the home secretary to the state indicates appropriate steps having been taken thus far, including the service of a charge-sheet.
