Court defers case to March 2
SHILLONG: Senior leader of the United Democratic Party, Bindo M Lanong has defended the move of the Lokayukta for directing a CBI probe into the illegal transportation of coal in the state even as Meghalaya government is challenging the order.
Lanong on Wednesday said that though the party did not have any discussion on the matter, he personally feels that Lokayukta is doing its duty as it has been established to look into such cases.
“Lokayukta deemed it fit to take up the matter while the government, which is challenging the order, has its own stand,” Lanong said.
The petition of the state government was taken up by the High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday.
However, the matter was deferred to March 2 as the government has not made Abdul Ahad Chaudhary a party to the case.
Chaudhary is supporting the respondent Abhijit Basumatary who had sought the intervention of Meghalaya Lokayukta to probe the coal scam.
The government had alleged in the petition that several criminal cases are pending against Chaudhary.
However, in the course of argument in the court when confronted with various pleadings making allegations against Chaudhary, the Advocate General sought time to file appropriate application to implead him as party respondent.
According to Lanong, Lokayukta has every right to pursue the matter and state government has to appear before it and state its position.
He also said that who is right and who is wrong and what materials are available with Lokayukta pertaining to the case will come to light only when the case is taken up.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had also welcomed the CBI probe into the coal syndicate ordered by the Lokayukta.
The Opposition Congress has vowed to pressurise the MDA government to withdraw the petition filed in the court challenging the direction of the Lokayukta for the CBI probe.
The Opposition also alleged that the state government is deliberately delaying the whole process of investigation to destroy evidence and go scot free but the opposition asserted that it will not allow this and the government should withdraw the petition.