SHILLONG, Dec 20: TMC leader Saket Gokhale has sought the status of the inquiry and the inquiry report pertaining to the allegation of distribution of cash by Cabinet Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare in Nongkrem.
In a petition submitted to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo on Tuesday, Gokhale sought the final inquiry report into the allegation which has been submitted to the state government.
Gokhale also sought to know whether the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was informed about the allegations of cash distribution and whether a copy of the final inquiry report was submitted to the ED.
Quoting Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, he said that as of October 2022, the Deputy CM had said that the final inquiry report was awaited from the East Khasi Hills district administration.
“While Deputy CM Tynsong claims that distribution of cash before the Model Code of Conduct is not illegal, it may be noted here that distributing cash without any receipt amounts to serious violations of several laws including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002,” Gokhale said while adding that it is the responsibility of the district administration and the police to ensure that unaccounted cash is not being laundered and distributed among people.
“Moreover, when a cabinet minister allegedly distributes cash to people, there are serious questions over the source of the money and the legitimacy of the cash. Keeping a check on black money and its alleged laundering through distribution of cash amongst people is the responsibility of the district administration to probe and report to the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA, 2022,” the TMC leader said.
