FIR against ex-MLA by clan for coal deal

TURA, SEPT 19: A former legislator of Meghalaya has come under the wrath of his own clan members for allegedly signing a contract for extraction of coal with a private company to the tune of Rs. 6 crore. Former MLA Francis Pondit R Sangma, who had the power of attorney for a land, which belonged to 166 Rongdam clan members, allegedly inked the deal with Divyansh Power Gen Pvt. Ltd in 2012.

The clan member had given the power of attorney to Francis Pondit for the purpose of extraction of coal. However, it came to light later that the former legislator had leased the land to a private limited company.

“He (Francis Pondit) has taken an advance of Rs. 6.1 crore from the company for the land and never distributed it amongst the actual land owners”, said the clan members, who filed an FIR recently against the former legislator.

The case of fraud came to light after the company sought a no objection certificate from Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for extraction of coal, which was even opposed by the former legislator himself.

In the FIR filed at Mendipathar police station yesterday against the former MLA, the clan members stated that about 100 meters of coal land at Reangdim A’king in Khasi Hills was allotted to them and they executed a general power of attorney in favour of Francis Pondit in 2010.

“He leased out the land to the company while keeping us in the dark. An amount of Rs 6.1 crores was paid to him for the said land. Whenever we enquired with him (Francis Pondit), he said nothing was happening. We became suspicious when he lodged a complaint with the Syiem of Nongstoin to not provide NOC to the company,” the clan members stated in the FIR.

Allegedly Francis Pondit distributed Rs 20,000 to some selected beneficiaries, while the amount to be distributed was close to Rs 3.7 lakhs for the 166 members.

“Some of us received nothing and he only made small payments to some people which did not exceed Rs 25 lakhs. He kept about Rs 5.8 crores for himself with the intention to cheat us”, the clan members stated.

The matter was only known after the company spoke to villagers and provided details on the amounts paid to Francis Pondit (including RTGS and payment receipts) on behalf of the clan members.

Divyansh had earlier executed a MoU with the state government for setting up of 240 MW thermal power plant for which the company had sought the land.

“His intention was not good. He wanted to swell up his profits and leased the land for 30 years to the company for the extraction of our coal while not even paying us our dues (Rs 3.7 lakhs). This amounts to cheating,” said the FIR by the clan members.-From Our Correspondent