Shillong, June 24: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily seized property valued at ₹40 lakhs in connection with the misuse of the development fund of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The seized property is registered in the name of Ismail R. Marak, a former Member of the District Council (MDC) for the 16-Aasannang constituency.
The investigation was initiated based on a chargesheet filed on April 18, 2023, in the Special Judge’s Court in West Garo Hills, Tura, for offenses under Sections 7A, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This chargesheet was linked to a complaint filed with the Meghalaya Lokayukta.
The investigation revealed that out of approximately ₹28.66 crores received as a grant for ‘Excluded Areas,’ ₹1 crore was allocated for 49 development projects in the 16-Aasannang constituency.
In violation of the Meghalaya Financial Rules, 1981, two contractors, Kubon Sangma and Nikeseng Sangma, were given 60% of the project cost as an advance. These work orders were allegedly secured using forged signatures, and no actual work was ever carried out. The released funds were later misappropriated.
The ED’s investigation under the PMLA uncovered earnings of ₹52.60 lakhs from the crime. This fund was transferred to Ismail R. Marak (₹19.60 lakhs in cash) and his wife, Pratibha Marak (₹33 lakhs via bank transfer), through the contractors’ accounts.
The seized property is being considered as the equivalent of the proceeds of crime. Notably, this value does not exceed the identified proceeds from the crime.
Earlier in the investigation, a total of ₹16.38 lakhs in bank account balances was frozen under Section 17(1A) of the PMLA, and the Adjudicating Authority has confirmed this freezing. A search was conducted on December 4, 2025, and the ED continues its investigation related to this case.
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