CMO silent as controversy rages over Rio's reported grilling by ED

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 13

The Nagaland Chief Minister’s Office remained silent even as a controversy raged over a news report claiming that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The report, published by The New Indian Express, claimed that Rio was summoned and questioned by the ED sometime in September, at the high-security Rangapahar Military Station, in Dimapur. It said that the questioning was in connection to the withdrawal of approximately Rs 70 crore for an incomplete Nagaland High Court building complex, the foundation for which was laid in 2007. 

There was no official confirmation from any quarters about the reported grilling of the CM, but a twitter post by INC TV claimed that it lasted for 6 hours and the CM did not use his regular security escorts to travel to the Army cantonment.

Meanwhile, there were contradictory reports about the questioning at the Army cantonment. When contacted by The Morung Express for comment, one source said that it is unlikely that the Army would allow its camp to serve as a questioning facility for corruption cases. Another said that it happened and that only a select few in the CM’s circle and in the Rangapahar cantonment were aware of it. Officials in the Army establishment declined to comment on the matter. 

The CBI, which also investigated the case following a directive from the Gauhati High Court, in an FIR filed in 2019, had named several individuals, which included officials of the Nagaland PWD and civil contractors. 

The CM’s party, NDPP and the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee were the only entities which came out with official statements. 

NDPP says 'false news'
The NDPP issued a press statement refuting the report on October 13 terming it as “false news” to defame Rio. It said, “The NDPP puts on record and clarifies that the Chief Minister was never summoned nor questioned by the ED till date.

Such malicious false news have been fabricated and spread by unscrupulous elements whose sole intentions are to damage the image of the Chief Minister and defame his name and the office he occupies.”

While stating that such acts of maligning the name and image of a person was unacceptable, it added that “all legalities are being put in place in order to identify and apprehend the source of this false and defamatory news and all legal actions will be pursued so that such acts are not committed in the future.”It further demanded the state government to investigate and apprehend the “culprits” responsible for the alleged malicious act under the relevant acts of law.  

Therie demands UDA dismissal 
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) President, K Therie stated that the CBI has filed two cases (Case no 6/2021 and Case No 7/2021) “accusing 14 in one case and 16 in the other,” while the ED has also filed 5 cases.

While stating, “One cannot run away,” Therie demanded, “If he (CM) is not guilty, he should prove himself clean before the people” or resign on moral grounds. But he also added, “I do not think he (CM) will do so.”

He further said that upholding the Narendra Modi government’s “zero tolerance towards corruption,” the Nagaland Governor should dismiss the UDA government “to remove obstacles if any for free and fair investigations and also to deliver justice to the people.”

While stating that public leaders in other states, accused in such cases are either dismissed or resign on moral grounds, he said that the BJP should also “come out clean in the matter if they are not collaborating in the corruption.”