Gohain denies connection with SB Borgohain
SHILLONG: As the Union Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohain, and the top functionary of NEEPCO, S.B Borgohain, have drawn flak for their alleged attempt to stop A.G West Kharkongor from becoming the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company, the Union Minister said he neither supported nor opposed anyone for the top post of the PSU.
Speaking to media persons in Shillong on Tuesday, Gohain said he had only asked someone to conduct an inquiry after he had received information that people have submitted fake certificates and documents for the post.
“Does it befit them and my only sin was I had asked for an inquiry into the matter,” he said.
A vigilance report of NEEPCO’s former Chief Vigilance Officer Satish Verma had revealed the alleged role of company Director (Personnel) Borgohain and his connection with the Union Minister from preventing Kharkongor from becoming the CMD.
“Who is Borgohain, and who is what I have nothing to do with it,” the Minister told reporters.
The vigilance report had highlighted the role of Gohain, who is the current minister of state for railways, for complaining against Kharkongor at the behest of Borgohain.
“The role of Rajen Gohain is also questionable in this matter,” the report had said.
The report submitted to the Ministry of Power said Borgohain had also connived with two persons identified as Naba Ram Rabha and Sanjib Kalita to commit a criminal offence of conspiracy and falsely complained to the Centre and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Kharkongor, leading to criminal breach of trust.
The complaints by the Union minister as well as the two individuals, Rabha and Kalita, against Kharkongor were that he was having fake degrees and the ST certificate he was holding was not authentic.
The complaint made by Gohain in the capacity of the then Chairman of the committee on the welfare of other backward classes on February 24 last year had stated that Kharkongor’s PGDM degree from IIM Calcutta is not equivalent to MBA (Finance), which was the necessary qualification for his appointment as Director (Finance) in 2010.
After proper probe by Verma, all these allegations were found to be false.
In January this year, NEEPCO chief Kharkongor filed an FIR stating that the two persons, Rabha and Kalita, gained access to the documents kept in his personal file and took copies of his personal documents maintained by the HR wing. These documents were used by the duo to lodge complaints regarding his educational qualification and ST status.
The final report by Verma regarding the false complaints against Kharkongor was sent on May 19 last year and it provided compelling materials for acting against Borgohain.
Verma had also sent the true copies of documents showing the connection between Assam MP Gohain and Borgohain, together with the complaints of the MP against Kharkongor to the Union Power Ministry and others.