Deadline for CBI to complete twin probes ends in a month

SHILLONG: With the Supreme Court on Friday giving its final verdict on the education scam, the CBI is on the job to complete its task at the earliest, sources said on Sunday.
Besides, the deadline of six months set by the High Court of Meghalaya by the final order on November 2 last for the CBI to complete the probe into the scam ends on May 2.
The two probes that the court has entrusted to CBI are the criminal aspect of the education scam involving politicians and the investigation into examination centres other than Shillong Sadar, Jowai, Amlarem, Tura and Dadenggre.
The CBI was asked to segregate the tainted and untainted candidates and submit its report to the chief secretary within six months.
Earlier, the CBI had completed the probe into six centres and detected anomalies.
An official source said the CBI is on the job and the charge sheet is expected to be filed shortly.
As far as the criminal aspect of the education scam is concerned, the CBI last month recorded the statement of Agnes Kharshiing and Angela Rangad who had filed the FIR against former education minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and others.
Earlier on January 4, the CBI registered a case against Lyngdoh, additional chief secretary PS Thangkhiew, the Directorate of Elementary and Mass Education and others for allegedly interfering in the teachers’ recruitment conducted during 2008-2009.
In the same month, the CBI court granted bail to four persons, including Thangkhiew, who was the Principal Secretary in-charge education when the scam rocked the state.
Others who secured bail were Cabinet minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, former MLA Donkupar Massar and Jowai South MDC Moonlight Pariat, who is currently the CEM of JHADC.
Besides, several politicians had recommended their preferential candidates for appointment as teachers which is being probed by the CBI.