TURA: North Tura MLA Noverfield Marak has said he gave the bank withdrawal slip to a winner of a local competition because his cheque slips had exhausted.
The MLA’s clarification comes a day after The Shillong Times published a photograph (on January 7) of the bank withdrawal slip of Rs 2,000 signed by Marak that was given to the winner of the Song Kristan competition held at Rongkhon in December.
Marak said since his cheque slips exhausted, a bank official had suggested that he use the withdrawal slip. He said if there was any problem for the person to whom the withdrawal slip was issued, he should have approached him directly.
“Demonetisation has created a lot of problems. I had to issue cheque to many beneficiaries in December as there were several competitions in my constituency. As I was unable to pay them in cash due to the withdrawal limit, I issued cheques,” he said.
Marak also informed that he approached the evening branch of State Bank of India citing that he had to give cash prize to winners of competitions and he needed a cheque book immediately. However, the bank officials told him that it would take time and he could use the withdrawal slip instead.
The legislator had signed a withdrawal slip with his account number and had included the name of the beneficiary in the account holder’s column, which had gone viral on social media and also appeared in this newspaper.
Bank officials could not be contacted for their views.
