GUWAHATI, Feb 22 � The State Government is now morally and constitutionally bound to give its consent for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the NC Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) scam following the observation made by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the letter from the Union Home Ministry in this regard.
This is the observation made by noted jurist and former Advocate General of Assam Pachu Gopal Baruah on the issue. He was talking to this newspaper here today.
The NC Hills scam involves hundreds of crores of public money meant for development of the autonomous district. This huge amount was �misappropriated� by committing �forgery� etc., by �public servants� as revealed in the NIA investigation, which has been recorded in the observation made by the investigating agency in its chargesheet, Baruah said.
In case the State Government fails to give its consent for a CBI inquiry into the case, the doors of the High Court and the Supreme Court are open for any citizen to approach them on the issue.
The High Court and the Supreme Court may also take up the issue on their own if sufficient materials come to their knowledge, said the senior jurist.
It is pertinent here to mention that the NIA is not empowered to conduct investigation into financial irregularities, as it is mandated only to investigate into the cases relating to terrorism.
The NIA Act, 2008 (34 of 2008) said that the agency was proposed to be constituted at �the national level to investigate and prosecute offences affecting the sovereignty, security and integrity of India, security of State, friendly relations with foreign States and offences under Acts enacted to implement international treaties, agreements, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations, its agencies and other international organisations and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.�
