BJP leader and tribal council CEO distributes contracts worth Rs 200 crore to family members

Serious allegations of nepotism have surfaced in Assam against BJP leader Tuliram Ronghang who happens to be Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. According to official documents accessed by India Today NE, the council, under the leadership of Tuliram, has sanctioned multiple contracts worth Rs 200 crore to companies owned by his son and his brother. The standard tendering process was not followed in the allocation of any of these contracts.  Official records indicate that in 2021-22, Rs 100 crore were divided between M/s Kache Construction (OPC) Pvt. Ltd, owned by Singdom Ronghang, son of Tuliram, and Inglong Enterprise, owned by Tuliram's brother Robiram Ronghang.

Here is the breakup of the work orders of contracts worth Rs 100 crore assigned to these firms.

Similar trends of nepotism were observed in the financial year 2018-19 and in 2019-20. Various road improvement projects, sanctioned under special grants as part of the Chief Minister's road improvement package, were awarded to firms owned by Tuliram's relatives. Besides, there were several overlaps in the sanction of funds. For instance, funds for the construction of the same road from Diphu Civil Hospital to Lorulangso via Diphu Thana were allocated for both the fiscal year 2018-19 and 2019-20. While Rs 16.78 crore were sanctioned for this project in 2018-19, another Rs 6.76 crore were allocated in 2019-20 again. 

Tuliram's brother Robiram received both assignments. In another instance, funds from two different sources were allocated for the same project. For the road Joysing Doloi memorial auditorium to Diphu Manja, Rs 1.50 crore were sanctioned under the Chief Minister's Road Improvement Package in 2018-19 while in the next fiscal Rs 1.65 crore were allocated under the Finance Minister's Special Package. Robiram's firm was the beneficiary in this case too.

Also Read: 17-km road built in seven days. It happens only in Assam. On paper

For the improvement of the road from first police point to Diphu Manja to Matipung Tinali, two separate work orders were issued within a month, totalling to Rs 23.67 crore. The work was allotted to the firm owned by Mannem Terongpi, daughter of Tuliram's brother-in –law.  

Tuliram Ronghang didn't react when IndiatodayNE questioned him about the allegations of irregularities and nepotism. When Robiram Ronghang was contacted, he said:  "You can talk to my brother for all these details and he is the only one aware of all these details." 

India Today NE had earlier reported how a 17-km road worth Rs 30 crore was built in seven days by Kache Construction, owned by Tuliram's son. Experts argue that quality work cannot happen if it is completed in such a short time span.