Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two persons for allegedly acting as brokers in a multi-crore land compensation scam linked to the Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway, officials said on Friday.
The accused, identified as Rajo Gyadi (46) of Tassomora village and Yayo Yangfo (36) of Seppa, were arrested on Thursday in East Kameng district for allegedly acting as brokers in manipulating compensation awards to benefit certain private beneficiaries.
The ACB alleged that Gyadi, in collusion with the then District Land Records and Settlement Officer (DLRSO) Takam Kechak, fraudulently inflated compensation amounts to benefit certain beneficiaries.
Investigators claimed the syndicate collected bribes totalling Rs 19.51 crore from beneficiaries, of which Gyadi alone received Rs 1.96 crore through post-dated cheques routed into his personal and firm-linked bank accounts.
Yangfo allegedly played a key role in routing bribe money through post-dated cheques and is accused of collecting Rs 1.77 crore, an amount included in the total bribe figure, by facilitating transactions from beneficiary accounts, the ACB said.
The case, registered as ACB, relates to alleged irregularities in land acquisition and compensation disbursement for the 125.5-km Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway, a strategic infrastructure project intended to improve connectivity along India’s border with China.
ALSO READ: Kamala hydropower project approval a major boost for Arunachal Pradesh: CM Khandu
The investigation has also resulted in the arrest of another accused, Khya Byagang, whose interrogation helped investigators uncover crucial financial trails, officials said.
ACB officials added that more arrests are likely as the probe continues and financial evidence is further examined.
