ED attaches ₹40 lakh property in GHADC fund misuse case, Meghalaya
Synopsis
The ED has provisionally attached a ₹40 lakh property belonging to former GHADC MDC Ismail R. Marak, tracing ₹52.60 lakh in alleged proceeds of crime from development funds meant for 49 projects in Meghalaya's Asanang constituency — none of which were ever executed, according to investigators.
Key Takeaways
The ED Shillong Sub-Zonal Office provisionally attached a property worth ₹40 lakh under PMLA on 24 June .
The asset is registered in the name of Ismail R.
Marak , former MDC for the Asanang constituency , Meghalaya .
Out of ₹28.66 crore received by GHADC , ₹1 crore was allocated for 49 development projects that were never executed.
ED traced proceeds of crime worth ₹52.60 lakh ; ₹33 lakh was allegedly routed to Marak's wife Pratibha Marak via contractors' accounts.
Bank balances of ₹16.38 lakh were frozen earlier under PMLA; searches were conducted on 4 December 2025 .
Further investigation is underway.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED)'s Shillong Sub-Zonal Office has provisionally attached an immovable property worth ₹40 lakh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the alleged misappropriation of development funds belonging to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 24 June. The attached asset is registered in the name of Ismail R. Marak, a former Member of the District Council (MDC) for the Asanang constituency.
Background and Predicate Offence
The ED launched its money laundering probe on the basis of a chargesheet filed as Special P.C. Act Case No. 01/2023 dated 18 May 2023 before the Court of the Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in Tura. The case originated from Meghalaya Lokayukta Complaint Case No. 01/2019 and pertains to alleged offences under Sections 7A, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
How the Funds Were Allegedly Siphoned
According to the ED's investigation, the GHADC received a 'Grant for Excluded Areas' amounting to approximately ₹28.66 crore, of which ₹1 crore was allocated to the Asanang constituency for 49 development projects. In alleged violation of the Meghalaya Financial Rules, 1981, an advance of 60 per cent of the project value was released to two contractors — Kubon Sangma and Nikseng Sangma — against work orders reportedly obtained using forged signatures, even though none of the projects were executed. The funds were subsequently siphoned off, according to investigators.
Proceeds of Crime Traced
The ED's probe traced proceeds of crime totalling ₹52.60 lakh. Of this, ₹19.60 lakh was allegedly received in cash by Marak, while ₹33 lakh was reportedly transferred to his wife, Pratibha Marak, routed through the contractors' bank accounts. The provisionally attached property represents the 'value thereof' of the identified proceeds of crime, not exceeding the traced amount.
Earlier Actions and Current Status
In a prior enforcement action, bank balances totalling ₹16.38 lakh were frozen under PMLA provisions — a step subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority. Searches in the case were conducted on 4 December 2025, the ED statement noted. This comes amid a broader pattern of enforcement actions targeting fund misuse in autonomous district councils across the northeastern region. Further investigation is underway, officials said.
Point of View
This case may be the tip of a larger accountability deficit.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ED's GHADC case in Meghalaya about?
The case involves the alleged misappropriation of development funds belonging to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Meghalaya. The ED is investigating how ₹1 crore allocated for 49 development projects in the Asanang constituency was allegedly siphoned off through forged work orders and unexecuted contracts.
Who is Ismail R. Marak and why has his property been attached?
Ismail R. Marak is a former Member of the District Council (MDC) for the Asanang constituency in Meghalaya. The ED provisionally attached his ₹40 lakh property after tracing ₹52.60 lakh in alleged proceeds of crime linked to the GHADC fund misappropriation case.
How much money was allegedly siphoned in the GHADC case?
The ED traced proceeds of crime amounting to ₹52.60 lakh. Of this, ₹19.60 lakh was allegedly received in cash by Marak, and ₹33 lakh was reportedly transferred to his wife, Pratibha Marak, through the bank accounts of two contractors.
What legal provisions are being invoked in the GHADC case?
The ED is acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The predicate offence involves alleged violations of Sections 7A, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as well as the Meghalaya Financial Rules, 1981.
What happens next in the ED investigation?
Further investigation is underway, according to the ED. The agency has already frozen bank balances of ₹16.38 lakh — confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority — and conducted searches on 4 December 2025. The provisional attachment of the ₹40 lakh property is subject to further adjudication under PMLA.
