Morung Express News
Kohima | June 14
Director General of Police (DGP) Nagaland, LL Doungel today informed that the consultancy contract of retired ASP, MKR Pillai in the PHQ has been terminated with immediate effect.
This comes following interstate raids conducted by the IT Department at Pillai’s establishments and amidst investigations into the huge unaccounted assets that were uncovered during the raids.
“To allay any misgivings from the public we have decided to terminate his consultancy with immediate effect,” said Doungel. Pillai was working at the PHQ as a consultant for Motor & Transport, where he also deals with other matters such as Modernisation of Police.
“The decision has been made, which will be conveyed to the government and government will issue the order,” said Doungel, who also mentioned that over the years the consultancy contract had been renewed from “time to time” but did not “know for how long.”
Speaking to media persons at his office on June 14, Doungel clarified that questioning the stand of the department and its silence over the Pillai case might be imprecise, since the raid happened outside the State and was conducted by the Income Tax Department.
“This is not a case of keeping silent. There is nothing to say also because it happened outside the state in Kerala and it is to do with the Income Tax department. We also have heard from the media that IT raids had been conducted in premises of Pillai’s property. We are also following up on it and we don’t have anything to do with the raiding,” the Nagaland DGP said.
Action should be taken on the basis of certain evidences, Doungel stated, and further informed that, when the raid was conducted by the IT Department, the police department had no evidence.
Therefore, disciplinary actions cannot be taken because Pillai is a retired police and is only a consultant in PHQ, the DGP said.
“Disciplinary Action can only be taken on government servants and not somebody who has retired, so the most we can do is terminate his consultancy. That is what we have done. We don’t have anything to go by. Certain evidences of wrongdoings is required, we cannot simply register cases. Terminating his contract is as much we can do. Other than that what do we do? If it is established that there is a criminal act or offences then we can take cognizance of that but upto now IT has not shared with us. Till now we have no such evidences, they have not shared with us so until we have the evidences we cannot take up the case,” he added.
Despite the State Vigilance Commission giving suo moto cognizance to the case, the DGP stated that the area of focus is only on his Consultancy—on how he was appointed and the terms of his appointment-and not how he has amassed money.
On a question raised regarding the Nagaland Police Truck that was found at one of Pillai’s property in Pandalam, Doungel said, “We’ll have to check from the detailment of the vehicle duties from the logbook to establish where and how it was there.”
Pillai was appointed as a Consultant after retirement in 2009. The proposal for Pillai’s appointment, however, was not made by the Police Department, but by the Government.
“There are so many areas of functions and dealings with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and that is why on this he had had a lot of contact officials in MHA. Over the years he must have developed those contacts. So it helps our cause, our projects. He takes it up with officials in MHA. He facilitates the whole process. And the other officials jointly work together,” the Nagaland DGP stated.
Doungel meanwhile refuted a report circulating in social media alleging that Pillai is currently staying at the DGP’s residence. “This is a very malicious rumor. Pillai has his own place. He doesn’t need to stay with me. What is there that he should come and stay with me. He visits now and then like any other department official,” he stated.
