Sangma appeals Meghalaya govt to arrest former minister

Shillong, Dec 18 (UNI) Former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma has asked the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to arrest its former Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Minister Beckstar Sangma for his alleged siphoning off central funds from the Rural Innovative Housing Scheme.

''The government should have immediately arrest Beckstar after returning the misappropriated funds to the government,'' Mr Sangma told reporters here.

In the recent months, the former Lok Sabha Speaker has unearthed the scam of about Rs 50 lakh by the former C&RD minister.

''There is no need for further inquiry when the accused had already acknowledged his misdeeds by recovering the money to the government,'' Mr Sangma said, adding that the government should take legal actions against the former Congress Minister.

Soon after the former Lok Sabha Speaker unearthed the scam, the multi-coalition-led Congress Ministry has directed state Police Anti-corruption branch to investigate into the alleged scandals.

Sleuths of the anti-corruption branch have arrested at least two of the Block Development Officers, accused to be involved in the scam.

Earlier, Mr Sangma has urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Minister for Rural Development Raghu Vansh Prasad Singh to initiate a CBI probe into the misappropriation of Central fund by former Meghalaya C&RD Minister Beckstar K.Sangma.

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