Assam: MP Ajit Bhuyan grilled by SVC in connection with fund misuse case

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (SVC) on Monday questioned Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Kumar Bhuyan for over five hours in connection with a case related to misuse of Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds.

Bhuyan appeared before the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (SVC) in connection with a case registered by the SVC (case no. 1/2023) at around 11:30 am and was grilled for his role in the misappropriation of MPLAD funds.

The CM’s SVC found irregularities in the execution of projects in the Barpeta, Kamrup, and Kamrup (M) districts under the MPLAD fund of Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan. The CM’s SVC had registered a case against 14 persons in connection with these irregularities and anomalies.

Before entering the SVC office, Bhuyan told the media that he was surprised by the summons in the case related to misappropriation of funds under his MPLAD Scheme for the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Bhuyan stated that MPs are only responsible for recommending schemes, but the financial management and implementation fall under the jurisdiction of the District Commissioner. “It is a known fact that an MP only recommends a scheme, but the financial part and implementation of the project is done by the District Commissioner,” he said. Bhuyan also questioned the direction of the probe.

 After emerging from the SVC’s office, Bhuyan said, “I was asked around 30 questions related to the implementation of MPLAD, but there is a single answer to the questions—the DC is responsible for implementing the scheme. MPs only recommend schemes; there cannot be any issue with that part. Maybe a name somewhere is given wrongly. But we don’t have anything to do with the financial part. We can recommend the cost of the project, but we don’t have anything to do with releasing the funds.”

Reacting to the allegations against Bhuyan, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters that he respects the MP but defended the inquiry against him. Sarma told the media, “I respect him, but the road project that he had recommended does not exist. In this case, only his statement was pending. After this, the report will be submitted in the court. Many ACS officers have not only been suspended but already terminated from service in connection with the case.”

Also read: Assam: MP Ajit Bhuyan appointed as president of opposition forum

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