A team of Nagaland vigilance commission and Anti-Corruption Cell raided the residence of State Minister for Agriculture Benjongliba Aier for allegedly withdrawing Rs 60,00,000 from a Horticulture Department's account, officials said here today.
Stating that the raid is in connection with scams in operating a bank account of the Mission Director (Horticulture Mission - NE) even after Aier remitted his office in 2012 and got elected in the 2013 state Assembly elections.
The raid was conducted at his private as well as official residences in Kohima at Old Ministers' Hill yesterday but the minister was not arrested as he has secured an anticipatory bail.
The minister was not available for comments.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Tokheho Yepthomi had last month said that Nagaland's Assembly elections were announced on January 11, 2013, and the Model Code of Conduct came into force simultaneously.
The retired director of horticulture and mission director horticulture technology mission, Dr Benjongliba filed his nomination on February 4, 2013, the CLP leader said but he continued to operate so-called the Department account and withdrew Rs 60,00,000 cash by Self Cheque on three occasions even after Code of Conduct came into force proving the same from the account statement through his statement in the local media.
"The presence of such tainted ministers in the Government only paints a bleak for which he should resign and a probe ordered," Tokheho said.
The Vigilance Commission in a statement said that it registered a suo moto criminal case based on the media reports.
The case was registered after scrutiny of documents made available which points to the alleged involvement in the misappropriation and misutilisation of funds under the Horticulture Technology Mission pertaining to the period 2008 - 2009 to 2012 - 13.
