Gauhati High Court acquits all accused in multi-crore-rupee NC Hills scam

Court highlights grave lapses in the investigation

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court today acquitted all persons accused in the multi-crore-rupee North Cachar Hills scam. The court also highlighted “grave lapses” on the part of the investigation agency during the investigation.

Among the notable acquittals are former militants-turned-politicians Jewel Garlosa, Niranjan Hojai, and Mohit Hojai, the former Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC). They had been serving life sentences since 2017 after a National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court found them guilty. Former Social Welfare Department’s CDPO and in-charge Deputy Director of NC Hills, Md Redaul Hussain Khan, also secured acquittal, although he had previously spent 12 years in jail and is currently on bail.

A set of appeals under Section 374 of the Cr PC had been filed in the Gauhati High Court against the judgment dated May 22, 2017, passed by the NIA special court in Special NIA Case No.1/2009 whereby 13 persons had been convicted and received sentences ranging from 8 to 13 years for their roles in the multi-crore-rupee scam.

RH Khan had been arrested for allegedly conspiring with others to misappropriate government funds totalling Rs 17, 24,17,200 from various development schemes of the Agriculture Department, NC Hills. The NIA’s findings indicated that the accused had diverted substantial funds from government departments between 2006 and 2009. The investigation also uncovered the diversion of funds to the DHD-J, potentially to finance arms procurement for anti-national activities.

The High Court stated that the judgment dated May 22, 2017 passed by the NIA special court in Special NIA Case No.1/2009 “does not stand to scrutiny and is hereby quashed and set aside”. The court further ordered that Jewel Garlosa, Niranjan Hojai and Mohet Hojai who are in custody should be released if they are not wanted in any other case(s). The other accused are on bail. “Their bail bonds are discharged, they need not surrender,” stated the court order.

The order further stated, “We direct that copy of the judgment shall be placed before the Director General of Police, Assam and the seniormost officer of the prosecution department, Assam State and so also the Assam State Judicial Academy for future references and guidance so that cases with such serious allegations may not meet the same fate on account of grave lapses noted by us on the part of the Investigation Agency, prosecution and the Court.”

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