SHILLONG: Sex scandals involving those who were in power marked 2017.
After Independent legislator from Mawhati Julius Dorphang was arrested on January 6 following the rape of a minor, allegation of indecent behaviour with women job aspirants by Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan cost him the chair on January 27.
Following this, Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit took temporary charge of Meghalaya and finally Ganga Prasad was appointed as the new governor and he took oath in October.
Though the guest house run by the family of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh was used for sex racket, the minister did not resign owning moral responsibility despite pressure from several quarters and he was backed by Chef Minister Mukul Sangma.
Under pressure, Dorphang, who was supporting the Congress-led government, was removed from an Assembly panel and also from the post of chairman of Meghalaya Khadi and Village Industries Board.
The sex scandal involving a 14-year-old girl and more than 10 persons dominated at least half of the year.
Another case involving a legislator was that of Rongjeng MLA Sengman Marak and his friend who had allegedly tortured a doctor on March 5 in Rongjeng, East Garo Hills. Later, the legislator denied the allegations and said the matter had been settled.
RTI against MLAs
While an FIR was filed against legislator Paul Lyngdoh for the alleged misuse of MLA funds, another legislator Sanbor Shullai had admitted to nepotism after several appointments of relatives were revealed in the RTI reply.
Besides, another RTI reply revealed alleged misappropriation of SUWP funds by Shullai though he had denied his role.
Education scam
The biggest scam that continues to haunt the Congress-led MUA-II government is the education scandal.
The High Court on November 2 scrapped the appointments carried out in 2010 and ordered CBI inquiry into the matter.
The chief minister, however, refused to take action against Ampareen Lyngdoh stating that he would wait for the probe result.
Later, the government also filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against the verdict of the High Court since the non-tainted teachers were affected by the order of the court.
