ED Seizes Properties of Nagaland Contractors in High Court Complex Scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached immovable assets worth Rs 96 lakh linked to two contractors of Nagaland’s Public Works Department (PWD) in a case of misappropriation of public money during the construction of the new High Court Complex at Kohima.
Details of the Case
The properties, attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, are related to Avituo Sekhose and Mhalelie Rio. The ED’s investigation revealed that these contractors were involved in criminal activities, causing a wrongful loss to the government and obtaining proceeds of crime.
Background
The Dimapur Sub Zonal Office attached these properties based on an inquiry initiated by the ED following a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Imphal. The FIR was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, for the alleged misappropriation of Rs 3.61 crore during the construction of the High Court Complex in Kohima.
Chargesheets Filed
The CBI has filed chargesheets against several individuals:
- Contractor Avituo Sekhose and engineers Er. Yapang Jamir, Er. M.I Tongjok Ao, and Er. K Nikato Assumi for allegedly committing offences amounting to Rs 80.25 lakh.
- Contractors Thepfusatuo Rio, Mhalelie Rio, and Vibeilietuo Kets for allegedly committing offences amounting to Rs 29.68 lakh.
Doubts Revealed
ED -: ED stands for Enforcement Directorate. It is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering.
Nagaland -: Nagaland is a state in the northeastern part of India. It is known for its rich culture and beautiful landscapes.
PWD department -: PWD stands for Public Works Department. It is a government department responsible for building and maintaining public infrastructure like roads and buildings.
Rs 96 lakh -: Rs 96 lakh means 96 lakh rupees. In India, 1 lakh is equal to 100,000 rupees, so 96 lakh is 9,600,000 rupees.
High Court Complex -: A High Court Complex is a building where the High Court, which is a major court in a state, is located. It handles important legal cases.
CBI -: CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation. It is India’s top investigative agency that looks into serious crimes like corruption and fraud.
chargesheets -: A chargesheet is a document filed by the police or investigative agencies in court. It lists the charges against the accused people in a crime.
scam -: A scam is a dishonest scheme or fraud, usually to make money illegally. In this case, it involves misuse of funds meant for building the High Court Complex.
