SHILLONG: A case was filed against former legislator Francis Pondit R Sangma for allegedly inking an agreement worth over Rs 6 crore for coal extraction with a firm without, however, giving the dues to the Rongdam clan members in West Khasi Hills.
The clan members who filed the FIR at Mendipathar police station on Friday said the land at Reangdim A’king in West Khasi Hills, which was allotted to them, was leased out to Divyansh Power Gen Pvt. Ltd for 30 years by clan member Sangma in April 2012.
The firm had earlier signed an MoU with the State government for starting a 240MW thermal power plant in 2010.
The clan members had executed a general power of attorney to Sangma for extraction of coal, but to their surprise, it was found that Sangma had not given the due share to the clan members following the agreement.
The allegation of as many as 166 Rongdam clan members is that Sangma had taken an advance of Rs. 6.1 crore from the firm for the land, but the money was not disbursed to the actual land owners.
While some members received Rs 20,000, the actual amount to be disbursed to the 166 members was Rs 3.7 lakh each even as Sangma kept with him around Rs 5.8 crore, the FIR alleged.
The clan members said that they were compelled to lodge the FIR since Sangma was not clarifying on the amount received following the land deal.
The matter came to the fore after the firm had shared the details with the villagers about the money (Rs 6.10 crore) paid to Sangma on behalf of the members of the clan.
The former legislator was not available for comments.
