The Gauhati High Court has directed the state government to launch an investigation after raising “grave misgivings” while hearing a contractor’s request for an order for payment of balance bills for mosquito net supply in the BTC region.
“…the sum involved in this case creates considerable concern and suspicions, especially when the amount involved is public money paid by tax payers,” Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi wrote in his ruling. It is unfathomable to accept a price of Rs 31,50,00,000/- for the supply of mosquito nets in three blocks.”
“This court’s opinion is that public money cannot be siphoned off in the way that prima facie appears from the facts and circumstances of the present case,” the court added.
There will be three independent inquiry committees, comprised of officials from finance, home, WPT, and BC departments with participation by BTC’s principal secretary. According to the court, the committee must do its best to complete the inquiry swiftly and submit its report to the registry of this court in a sealed cover, preferably within two months of completing the inquiry.
“The learned AG, Assam, has reasonably presented the matter involved is a severe one that may require some investigation by the competent authority,” the court added.
In its petition, the contractor, M/S Manaranjan Brahma Enterprise, alleged that the entire bill for the delivery of 4.5 lakh mosquito nets in three development blocks — Dotoma, Kokrajhar, and Kochugaon — was Rs 31,50,00,000, of which Rs 13,00,00,000 had been paid and Rs 18,50,00,000 remained.
