Dimapur, April 18 (MExN): The report of the verification committee that was set up to probe into the alleged Rs. 18 Crore ‘fraud’ in the Nagaland Police Department, says that the entire issue owes it all to “several inconsistencies” such as “totaling errors, abnormally low rates for certain items etc” or ‘unavailable items’ that had to be procured from somewhere else, or ‘non-receipt of allotment’ and so on.
A copy of the findings addressed to the chief secretary of Nagaland and appended by chairman of the government-appointed committee, HK Khulu, was received here today. The report summed up the findings by stating that there is no “intent of mischief in the procurement.”
The Nagaland police have been under attack for the alleged fraud, which implicated the then-Director General of Police, K Kire, for allegedly issuing fictitious bills for arms and ammunition, equipment and support apparatus procured for the State’s police personnel.
The “findings” in the report implied that the causes are mainly “procedural lapses.” Interestingly, the report also implied that funds were drawn before actual procurement of the support equipments for the police.
Outlining the turn of events that led to the government instating the verification committee, the committee reported its findings. “It is apparent that the department in spite of submission of bills of some firms as pointed out by the audit did not procure the materials from the same firms. However, it was explained that bills were submitted for drawal of the amount on AC Bill as quoted by the firms and that procurement had to be done from some other firms as the materials were not readily available,” the committee stated.
The committee also said to have examined documents such as tender notices, comparative statements, supply orders, copies of bills and invoices, line committee reports, stock registers, receipts/issue vouchers and so on, to establish the genuineness of the purchases. “It is found that these documents are in order,” the report said.
Likewise, the committee undertook a physical verification of the procured items in stock and is established that the “materials were actually procured.” So far, the report said, the quantities shown as issued are supported by issue/receipt vouchers duly signed by the recipients ‘who are on election duties in Assam and west Bengal.’
Except for the change of firms from whom the actual procurements were made, the report explained, “the other procedural aspects” are found to be “satisfactory.” As such, the committee said, “we find no intent of mischief in the procurement.”
The recommendations that the verification committee has made were three. The report recommended that the process of procurement should be initiated in advance to “avoid procedural lapses.” Availability must be confirmed first, also, so that “change of firms after drawl of bills is not necessitated.”
In regard to procurement of arms and ammunitions, the committee advised the Police department to make very sure that money is “drawn only when it is required for immediate disbursement.”
The procurement of all other items should be done through duly constituted ‘purchase board’ after inviting tenders and observing all “codal formalities,” the committee added.
