SEARCH THIS BLOG

Sunday, March 6, 2011

178 - PDS scam: Apang held, remanded to 7-day police custody - TOI

PTI Aug 24, 2010

ITANAGAR/LAKHIMPUR: Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang was arrested today for his alleged involvement in a multi-crore public distribution system scam and remanded in seven days police custody.

Apang was arrested by the Special Investigation Cell constituted by the Arunachal Pradesh government and charged under section 120b (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC read with B-2 Prevention of Prevention of Corruption Act.

"Apang was arrested based on material evidence and statement given by the other accused," the cell's investigating officer M S Chauhan said in Itanagar.

"We provided Apang with a set of questionnaires and despite three earlier summons he appeared before the SIC only today. He denied knowledge of facts or persons involved in the scam," he said.

Apang was later produced before special sessions court judge Pradip Khanikar in Assam's Lakhimpur city who remanded the former chief minister in seven days police custody. The judge also directed Apang's periodic medical check-up.

The former CM, who was brought here amidst tight security after his case was forwarded to special sessions court as there is no court or jail in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, told reporters before entering the court that his arrest was a political conspiracy to tarnish his image.

"I am in no way involved in the scam and I demand a CBI inquiry into it," he said.

The Special Investigation Cell was constituted by the Arunchal Pradesh government on the directive of the Gauhati High Court after a PIL was filed by the Arunachal Citizens' Right Chairperson Bamang Anthony and Domin Loya on June 13, 2004 against the alleged over Rs 1,000 crore PDS scam in the state.

The scam relates to loss suffered by the public exchequer because of false and fraudulent hill transport subsidy bills, which were cleared without financial concurrence. Apang had been at the helm of affairs at the time.

Read more: PDS scam: Apang held, remanded to 7-day police custody - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PDS-scam-Apang-held-remanded-to-7-day-police-custody/articleshow/6425976.cms#ixzz0xZNQv5Vz