Deputy CEM levels serious allegations against ex-CEM, ex-Dy CEM
Tura, July 30: A controversy over alleged financial irregularities and forgery rocked the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Thursday as a clandestine attempt to secure a Rs 200-crore loan dominated the second day of its Monsoon Session.
The heated debate started after Question Hour when MDC Rinaldo K Sangma sought an explanation over payment of Rs 23.60 lakh from GHADC funds to Delhi-based Lexi Corp LLP in 2025.
The firm received Rs 20 lakh initially, followed by Rs 3.60 lakh as professional fees, according to details placed before the House.
Rinaldo questioned why the payment was made when Budget Grant No. 12, relating to loans and grants, reflected “Nil”, and alleged that the same firm had been engaged to facilitate a loan of nearly Rs 200 crore for the Council.
Responding in the House, Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) Stevie M. Marak tabled minutes of a previous Executive Committee meeting and levelled serious allegations against former Chief Executive Member Albinush R. Marak and former Deputy Chief Executive Member Nikman Ch. Marak.
Speaking to reporters after the proceedings, Stevie alleged that the previous Executive Committee had attempted to mortgage the financial future of the District Council by secretly pursuing the massive loan proposal.
“If this had gone through, GHADC would have been saddled with a Rs 200-crore liability without the knowledge of the Council,” he claimed.
The Deputy CEM also alleged that the Executive Committee records had been tampered with. He claimed his name was shown as having attended the meeting that approved the proposal, despite never being present.
“I have never attended that meeting, yet my name appears in the minutes. I have no connection with this loan proposal or the meeting. I will file a forgery case,” Stevie told reporters.
During the discussion, former Deputy CEM Nikman Ch. Marak reportedly maintained that the company was the personal initiative of former CEM Albinush R. Marak and not an entity of the GHADC.
Rejecting the claim, Stevie displayed official documents before the media, pointing to a clause stating that “GHADC CEM Albinush R. Marak and Deputy CEM be hereby proposed as the first directors of the company on behalf of the Council.”
He argued that the document indicated an attempt to formally associate the District Council with a private company, which he described as legally untenable.
“The District Council is not a private company. If it was a personal venture, why was Rs 23.60 lakh from Council funds paid to it? Who authorised the payment?” he asked.
Stevie further alleged that public funds had been misused and demanded recovery of the Rs 23.60 lakh from the former CEM or the former Deputy CEM.
The allegations have triggered one of the biggest political controversies in the GHADC in recent years, with the members of the House demanding accountability over the payment to Lexi Corp LLP, the proposed Rs 200-crore loan and the alleged manipulation of Executive Committee records.
With the Deputy CEM announcing legal action over the alleged forgery, the issue is expected to dominate the remaining sittings of the Monsoon Session.
