Gyurme denies embezzlement of funds

Former Arunachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Tsering Gyurme has denied that he siphoned off Rs 2.36 crore which was meant for establishing a Centre of Excellence in Dirang in West Kameng district during his tenure from 2004 to 2006.
The Special Investigation Cell (Vigilance) of the state police has accused Gyurme of having embezzled public money to the tune of Rs 2.36 crores during 2004-2006 meant for implementation of project work of Centre of Excellence in Dirang under the Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in Arunachal Pradesh.
In a statement issued today, Gyurme said the SIC should get its facts corrected first and then only should make any allegations.

"It is for the people to visit the site and see for themselves the existence of facilities such as laboratories, poly houses, and the living beneficiaries of the programme," he said.
The Technology Mission for the Development of Horticulture (under which the project was sanctioned) is a centrally-sponsored scheme. Gyurme said the visits made to the site by central teams, the orientation programmes conducted for farmers, the procurement of exotic orchids from abroad, and distribution of orchids and poly green houses to farmers could not have been shams orchestrated by him over such a long period of time.
"The SIC did not even inquire with the beneficiaries who are still alive. It even failed to put on record that the materials procured are still in the possession of the horticulture department and beneficiaries spread over the entire district," he said.

Welcoming the probe into the matter, Gyurme cautioned that the law enforcing agency is required to conduct free, fair and transparent investigation, and failure to do so may entail legal processes.