SHILLONG: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached an immovable property valued at ₹40 lakh belonging to former Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Member of District Council (MDC) Ismail R. Marak in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the misappropriation of development funds.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ED’s Shillong Sub-Zonal Office said the attachment was carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The investigation stems from a chargesheet filed on May 18, 2023, before the Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Tura. The case originated from Meghalaya Lokayukta Complaint Case No. 01/2019 and relates to offences under Sections 7A, 12 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.According to the ED, the GHADC had received around ₹28.66 crore under the “Grant for Excluded Areas”, of which ₹1 crore was earmarked for 49 development works in the Asanang constituency.
The agency alleged that, in violation of the Meghalaya Financial Rules, 1981, an advance amounting to 60 per cent of the project cost was released to contractors Kubon Sangma and Nikseng Sangma on the basis of work orders allegedly obtained using forged signatures, even though the projects were never executed. The funds were subsequently diverted.
During the investigation, the ED traced alleged proceeds of crime amounting to ₹52.60 lakh. Of this, ₹19.60 lakh was allegedly received in cash by Marak, while another ₹33 lakh was reportedly transferred to his wife, Pratibha Marak, through the bank accounts of the contractors. The agency said the attached property represents the equivalent value of the proceeds of crime identified during the investigation and does not exceed the amount traced.The ED also stated that bank balances worth ₹16.38 lakh had earlier been frozen under the PMLA, with the action subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority.
Searches in connection with the case were conducted on December 4, 2025. Further investigation is in progress, the agency added.