The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated an inquiry into an unexplained cash discovery linked to officials of the Nagaland Agriculture Department. Sources revealed that a CBI team executed searches at both the Directorate of Agriculture and the Administrative office (Nagaland Civil Secretariat) in Kohima on February 8.
While the state government remained silent on the CBI’s activities, credible sources disclosed that the investigation stems from an incident at Delhi airport in December 2023. It was reported that a sum of Rs 70 lakhs in unexplained cash was seized from three Nagaland government officials during that time.
Although the officials involved were not publicly named, one of them is purportedly an IAS officer currently serving on deputation to the Nagaland cadre, with the remaining two officials affiliated with the state Agriculture Department.
According to sources, the investigation centers on funds allegedly associated with a scheme supported by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development. The inquiry aims to shed light on the origins and handling of the said funds within the Agriculture Department’s purview.