Sunday, January 12, 2025
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Apex court relief for former minister

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NEHU fund  misappropriation case

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Former Minister Edmund Lyngdoh has heaved a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court quashed a Gauhati High Court order sentencing him five years rigorous imprisonment in connection with misappropriation of Rs 62 lakh meant for constructing the new North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus in 1998.

Setting aside the Gauhati High Court order of November 26, 2010 and Special Judge, Shillong of October 28, 1999, the apex court in a judgement passed on February 16 directed Lyngdoh to furnish bail bonds of Rs 50,000 “with two sureties each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.”

Hearing an appeal of Lyngdoh, a special bench of Justice TS Thakur and Justice (Mrs) Gyan Sudha Misra in its order said, “The sentence imposed upon the petitioner is suspended subject to the petitioner depositing a sum of Rs 3.5 lakh roughly representing 50% of the excess amount allegedly received by him towards price of the cement supplied,”

It may be mentioned that Lyngdoh, a member of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), was earlier charged by the CBI for his involvement in misappropriation of the money.

The order, allowing and disposing the criminal miscellaneous petition passed inter alia, also stated that the “order be punctually observed and carried into execution by all parties concerned.”

Besides Lyngdoh, another prominent businessman — Jimmy Bareh and several NEHU officials including the then assistant finance officer of NEHU WMR Wahlang and the then chief engineer DP Sharma were also charged by the CBI in connection with the case

The Supreme Court last year had set aside an order convicting Bareh. The order of the Supreme Court then also referred the case to Gauhati High Court for a fresh hearing. The CBI on August 23 last year had seized two vehicles belonging to Bareh, who was declared an absconder in connection with the alleged misappropriation by the sessions judge, Shillong. DP Sharma passed away last year. Lyngdoh could not be contacted since he is undergoing treatment in NEIGRIHMS.

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