Did CBI Capture an Accused in Govt Scheme Fraud from Itanagar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- CBI arrests fugitive Tonia Langkam in Itanagar.
- Case relates to fraudulent government subsidy applications.
- 173 applications were falsely approved.
- The investigation has been ongoing since 2007.
- The scheme supports horticultural development through credits and subsidies.
Guwahati, Nov 14 (NationPress) The CBI has successfully apprehended an accused individual who was evading capture in Itanagar, linked to a fraudulent scheme designed to unlawfully obtain government credits and subsidies for horticulturists, an official reported on Friday.
Tonia Langkam was taken into custody on Thursday regarding the dishonest filing of applications under the initiative ‘Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management’ from the National Horticulture Board (NHB) in Guwahati.
Following his arrest, he was presented before a Special CBI Court in Guwahati, which placed him in judicial custody, according to officials.
The CBI revealed that the accused had been on the run since the chargesheet was filed in the fraud case back in 2009.
The federal investigative agency disclosed that false proposals were submitted under the names of fictitious applicants from Lohit, Lower Dibang Valley, and East Siang districts in Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in the approval of 173 applications.
On April 30, 2007, the CBI initiated an investigation based on these allegations, as stated in their announcement.
Investigations indicated that the applications and their supporting documentation were fabricated at the residence of accused Tarik Tolam in Guwahati, with assistance from local youths and under the guidance of Tonia Langkam and his accomplices, aiming to deceitfully obtain government subsidies, reported the CBI.
The chargesheet was filed on December 21, 2009, against Tonia Langkam and others, under applicable legal provisions.
This scheme, under which the alleged fraud was executed, provides support for horticulture through credits and subsidies.
The NHB's initiative titled 'Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post-Harvest Management' promotes integrated horticultural development by offering credit-linked, back-ended subsidies for both production and post-harvest management.
The scheme encompasses various projects for open field and protected cultivation, including activities such as planting materials, irrigation, mechanization, and Protected Agriculture, like greenhouses and shade nets.
Additionally, it supports post-harvest components like pack houses, ripening chambers, and cold storage, accessible to various eligible entities including individuals, farmer-producer organizations, and cooperative societies.