Documentary proof emerges indicating corruption by MeECL Union leader

Documents from sources indicate that Shullet – who served as Senior Electrical Inspector from 2011 to 2018 – had awarded contracts totalling multiple crores of rupees to one M/s I.S. Enterprise, a firm run by his wife Aynla Imsu.

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SHILLONG:


The controversy surrounding financial irregularities concerning the Meghalaya Corporation Limited (MeECL) took a surprising turn with fresh evidence, revealing the involvement of high-ranking officials in numerous irregularities involving crores of rupees.

MeECL union leader Pradip Kumar Shullet, who is the President of the Coordination Committee of Registered MeECL (Employee) Associations and Unions (CCORMAU), MeECL Engineers’ Association and the Chairman of the MeECL Joint Action Committee, seems to have been involved in manipulating the award of contracts to firms owned by his wife and relatives.

Documents from sources indicate that Shullet – who served as Senior Electrical Inspector from 2011 to 2018 – had awarded contracts totalling multiple crores of rupees to one M/s I.S. Enterprise, a firm run by his wife Aynla Imsu.

This comes days after Pradip Kumar Shullet had addressed a press conference, where he demanded CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in MeECL. According to sources, Shullet had awarded tenders without assessing the technical experience of I.S. Enterprise and had deliberately removed mandatory requirements of expertise for quotations and proposals to accommodate the firm.

Documents revealed Shullet had fraudulently split large quotations into around 106 small quotations below Rs. 50,000 to avoid floating of tenders in the public domain so that they could directly award them to his wife’s firm.

He also violated norms by making full payment without taking the mandatory performance bank guarantee from the firm.

I.S. Enterprise was given contracts for many items ranging from street lights to office wooden boards, from simple poster boards to pens and office files and the firm was also awarded the contract for making two-minute promotional videos for more than triple the market rates.
For instance, sources said that Shullet accepted quotes for an 8-watt LED lamp at Rs. 850 per unit, which costs only Rs. 250 in the market. For a basic promotional video of about two minutes, Shullet paid Rs. 50,000 to the firm without assessing technical capabilities.

They also alleged that Shullet got his wife and sister placed as energy conservation specialists without them having any such experience in the Inspectorate.

It is also said that in 2018, a complaint was filed against Shullet for nepotism, conflict of interest and abuse of power with a copy marked to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

They alleged that Shullet, upon lodging of the complaint, had erased all emails and deactivated the email account of the inspectorate. To escape further scrutiny, he moved out from the inspectorate and got himself posted as Executive Engineer (EE, Rural Electrification) in Nongstoin, MeECL.

In his current capacity as EE, he awarded contracts to his brother Nidamon Shullet in projects related to electrification works worth many crores in Nongstoin under the DDUGJY scheme.

Reportedly I.S Enterprises is also linked to his sister, Ranjita Shullet. The same firm is registered in MeECL also as one supplier in the name of M/s I.S Electricals.

It is believed that many firms/companies related to the serving engineers of MeECL got themselves registered and got lucrative orders.
Sources said a detailed investigation would bring out the nexus between engineers and suppliers/contractors, and all such suppliers and contractors would be de-registered and criminal action should be taken against engineers concerned.

Sources also stated that the people of West Khasi Hills were extremely annoyed with Shullet saying he is never found in Nongstoin.
Meanwhile, some members of the Coordination Committee of Registered MeECL (Employee) Associations and Unions (CCORMAU) and MeECL Engineers’ Association expressed shock and dismay at the unfolding events and questioned the moral authority of Shullet to lead the unions.

They also said that the law should take its course and that Shullet should be punished accordingly if found guilty.

We may note that nepotism, favouritism and conflict of interest in awarding tenders/contracts by a serving Government officer is an offence under section 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years.

When contacted, Shullet claimed he had followed all norms in the awarding of contracts.
“Work was allotted according to the findings of the tender committee,” he said.

“All these allegations that have surfaced don’t hold water because all norms have been adopted. No norms were flouted. The audit report is there,” he added.

(This is a developing story, and The Northeast Today will publish more details on this in the coming days.)

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