Morung Express News
Kohima | November 15
The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench has reserved judgment on a petition challenging a supplementary charge sheet filed in the wider investigation into alleged corruption and misuse of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) funds in Nagaland.
In an order dated November 13, Justice Pranjal Das recorded that arguments had concluded and judgment was reserved while allowing interim stay on proceedings against the petitioner, imposed on June 24, 2025.
The petition, filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, seeks to set aside the supplementary charge sheet dated April 4, 2025. The case originated from FIR registered on July 30, 2014, under Sections 406, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
The matter traces back to a 2013 public interest litigation filed by a social activist before the Kohima Bench, seeking a fair and independent probe, including a CBI inquiry, into alleged corruption, embezzlement and misuse of NRHM funds.
The High Court disposed of the petition on June 16, 2014, after expressing satisfaction with the action taken by State authorities.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court in 2015.The allegations recorded by the Supreme Court included bulk cash advances by the NRHM Engineering Division against fictitious works, alleged kickbacks to senior NRHM officials and diversion of funds intended for maternal and child healthcare towards luxury vehicle purchases. The State disputed the allegations, stating that an earlier SIT had investigated the matter and filed a charge sheet.
On December 6, 2022, the Supreme Court directed a fresh three-member SIT to further investigate all the allegations, examine the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and file a supplementary charge sheet if it found substance in the claims.
The team was asked to submit its report to the competent court, preferably within six months. The apex court left the questions of the allegations’ veracity and the fairness of the earlier investigation to the competent court.
Thereafter, on April 6, 2023, the apex court modified the SIT composition and directed it to immediately resume the investigation and complete it within six months.
The Court’s record indicted that SIT subsequently filed the supplementary charge sheet on April 4, 2025.
The petitioner challenged the supplementary charge sheet before the Kohima Bench, where the matter now awaits judgment.
