Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: A high-level vigilance investigation is underway in Arunachal Pradesh following claims of a 300 crore rupee financial scam within the state Fisheries Department. The Special Investigation Cell in Itanagar is scrutinizing allegations that public money was siphoned through ghost ponds and fraudulent projects between 2018 and 2024.
Members of the Joint Action Committee, which is leading the campaign for accountability, identified approximately 183 crore rupees in suspected irregularities in the Kra Daadi district and over 100 crore rupees in the Lower Subansiri district. Activists allege that departmental officials and treasury staff bypassed mandatory ministerial oversight to execute unauthorized transactions in areas like Palin and Jamin.
Former Fisheries Minister Tage Taki labeled the situation grave and called for strict action against those involved in the suspected collusion. Taki noted that the department typically operated on a much smaller annual budget during his 2019 to 2024 tenure, stating, "Audit documents reportedly showing expenditure of Rs 183 crore in a single district warranted detailed scrutiny and strict action against those responsible."
The Joint Action Committee has formally petitioned Chief Minister Pema Khandu to ensure the investigation remains transparent and time-bound. As public scrutiny grows, the committee has warned of potential protests if authorities fail to hold the responsible parties accountable. Taki has publicly denied personal involvement in the activities and committed to cooperating with the ongoing probe.
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