Rs 8 cr set aside as consultancy fee for ‘fake’ CA to help evade taxes: Bernard
SHILLONG, April 15: A major allegation has surfaced within the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), where a fake chartered accountant (CA), one Sumit Kumar Jain, is accused of masterminding a fraudulent scheme that diverted public funds meant for the development of Garo Hills region. Jain, who allegedly posed as a professional CA, reportedly assured GHADC officials that he could help evade tax penalties in exchange for a significant sum.
The accusations have raised serious concerns regarding the misuse of Rs 8 crore, which was earmarked as a consultant fee. According to BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak, the sum was paid under the guise of a consultancy arrangement, with Jain promising to secure exemptions from tax penalties. However, it was later revealed that Jain, who hails from Tura, has never held a Chartered Accountant degree nor has he had any professional credentials in the field.
Marak has strongly condemned the alleged scam, stating, “It is highly unacceptable that Rs 8 crore was set aside to pay a fake CA, while GHADC failed to clear employee salaries on time. This was a blatant misuse of public funds.” He added that the political pressure exerted by certain ruling members of the NPP, who allegedly backed Jain, led to the council paying this enormous sum under false pretenses. The allegation first came to light during a legislative session when the Taxation Department revealed that 8 crore was earmarked for consultancy services. The inclusion of this amount raised suspicions among several MDCs, with many questioning the legitimacy of the arrangement. Marak further accused the NPP-led Executive Committee of neglecting their duties by failing to deduct taxes at source, despite multiple reminders and summons.
Jain’s assurances to the ruling MDCs that he could evade taxes in exchange for the consultant fee sparked outrage among opposition members. “Tax evasion, if attempted, will lead to huge penalties. Yet some individuals are making easy money by impersonating professionals and making false promises to an esteemed institution like GHADC,” Marak said.
The funds in question were part of the Rs 100.71 crore special package from the central government, designated for the development of Garo Hills after a historic agreement with the ANVC groups. However, allegations of mismanagement and lack of proper implementation of these funds have surfaced, with no utilization certificates issued and the funds vanishing without trace.
Marak has vowed to lodge a formal complaint against those involved in the tax evasion and impersonation and is calling for an immediate investigation into the matter. “This is a serious allegation, and I demand that the CEM take strict action against all those involved. The agreement with this fraudulent consultant should be revoked without delay,” Marak said.
