Assam Public Works files FIR in CBI against former Assam NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela

The Assam Public Works (APW) has also demanded a high level probe over it.

Writing to the CBI, the APW alleged that a huge corruption has taken place in the process of update of NRC with the active role of the previous NRC State coordinator Prateek Hajela with his close aids and misappropriated huge public money for his personal gain.

“The Government of India is spending the whole expenditure of the aforesaid process through the then NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela and as per information an amount of Rs.1600 crore approximately has already been released by the Govt. of India. A large number of illegalities, financial irregularities have been committed in making different expenditure,” the APW said in the FIR.

The organization also alleged that – “The previous NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela appointed numbers of retired Govt. Servant as his advisor and they were provided with new vehicles and handsome package of salary, as per information a huge corruption took place in this process. It is important to mention herein that – what types of work have been done by the said advisers are not known and further no records is available in this regard, and it is not audited by CAG.”

“A large number of school teachers were engaged in this process of NRC updation by the previous NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela. However, no remuneration has been paid to them but huge money is shown to have been paid to such teachers. In this process, a huge amount of money has been misappropriated by the previous NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela with his close aids. For the updation of the NRC about 10,000 Laptops had been purchased by the then NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela at the cost of Rs. 44,000 per Laptop. On survey it has come to light that the market value of such laptop is Rs. 22,500 only per Laptop. This is another instance of corruption in the process of NRC updation. About 11,000 Electric Generators were purchased by the then NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hazela paying double of the actual price. It is well known fact that the previous NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela in the name of protection from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India did not allow the statutory audit of the NRC as because a huge financial irregularity has been committed by him. If it is enquired properly the truth will come out. As the process of NRC updation is a central subject, in Court of law it must be represented by Central Govt. Counsels, but the previous NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela as per his own wish appointed one private counsel that too without the approval of the Ministry of Law & Justice and Register General of India and is paying huge amount of money dr-horse the rule and regulations of the Ministry of Law & Justice, Govt. of India,” the APW stated in the FIR.

APW Chairman Abhijit Sharma said that – “Today we have filed an FIR with the CBI seeking for an inquiry of Rs 1600 crore hues in the NRC department and it was gained by Hajela and his aides.”

“We have given some points like that he (Hajela) had recruited some retired government officers in the NRC process given them new vehicles and a huge handsome package as their salary and it is not audited by the CAG. Around 10,000 Laptops were purchased for the NRC purpose at the rate of Rs 44,000 whereas the actual price is Rs 22,500. 1100 generators were purchased with a huge amount which is more than the actual amount. The project is a central government subject and without approval from the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Register general of India, the previous State Coordinator had appointed the private counsel. So, we are seeking an inquiry over the Rs 1600 crore,” Abhijit Sharma said.

Over 19 lakh people have been left out from the final NRC which was published on August 31 last.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)