Inquiries that follow scams are a greater scam in this country: Meghalaya High Court

The Meghalaya High Court recently directed the State government to file a report through the Secretary, Home Department on measures taken against the officials prima facie found to be involved in an alleged police vehicle scam.

While passing the order, the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh observed, "Unfortunately, the greater scam in this country is not in the scams themselves, but in the inquiries that follow the scams. More often than not, tomes of paper are wasted to bury the truth and seldom have the guilty been taken to task or any attempt made to recover the public money that was wasted".

Therefore, expressing hope that this matter would not travel the same established route, court ordered the action taken report to be filed on October 17 indicating the effective measures taken, including the arrest of those who were prima facie found to be involved in the racket to prevent them from attempting to remove the assets or funds involved in the scam.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by former diplomat Riewad V. Warjri and another citizen against illegal procurement of vehicles by some officials of the Police Department in the recent past. 

The petitioners claimed that different vehicles had been purchased by the Police Department since 2019 without any valid sanction from the competent authority and also 29 official vehicles were in the personal custody of the then Assistant Inspector General (Administration) of the Meghalaya Police.

The petitioners expressed their concern that despite there having been some hue and cry after the matter surfaced, there may be an attempt to cover up the entire episode.

On the other hand, while stressing that it is too early for any drastic action to be taken immediately, the state government submitted that an inquiry has been conducted into the matter and it is under consideration. 

However, on the question as to whether any steps have been taken to ensure that those perceived to be behind the defalcation do not remove, dissipate or transfer their assets, the counsel for the State government stated that it is only after any person is found guilty of defalcation that steps may be taken to recover the money that may have been misappropriated.

Taking note of the submissions made, court ordered for an action taken report to be filed on the next date of hearing i.e. October 17, 2022. 

Case Title: Riewad Vicharwant Warjri & anr vs State of Meghalaya & ors