Gegong Apang held for Rs 1,000 -cr PDS scam

After Madhu Koda in Jharkhand, another former chief minister has been arrested on charges of corruption.

Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang (61)was today arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for his alleged involvement in a Rs 1,000-crore public distribution system (PDS) scam.

The PDS scam in the state was unearthed after a similar case was registered in neighbouring Assam where seven cabinet ministers of the ruling Congress government were allegedly involved in embezzlement of funds.

Apang was chief minister of the state from 1980 to 1999 and again from 2003 to 2007. “Apang was arrested on the basis of material evidence and statements given by accused and was sent to a seven-day police custody by a session’s court”, said M S Chauhan, the special investigation officer of the case.

The scam was detected after false and inflated bills for procurement and transportation of foodgrain meant for public distribution system were found. It is suspected that many businessmen from Assam too are involved in it.

The scam, which is believed to be close to Rs. 1,000 crore, first came to light after a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by two persons – Bamang Tegu and Domin Loya – on June 13, 2004. Soon after, the Congress-ruled state government set up a special investigation team to probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds.

The scam took place when Apang, who had also been one the longest serving chief misters of India, was at the helm of affairs in Arunachal Pradesh.

Apang was booked under section 120b (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC.