Samir Ahmed being taken to court in Guwahati. File picture

Guwahati, Dec. 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has pleaded before the court for granting pardon to Samir Ahmed, an accused in the multi-crore Dima Hasao funds diversion scam, after he expressed his willingness to turn approver.

Official sources said the investigation agency had recently written to the court of the special judge, NIA, here with a prayer for tendering pardon to Ahmed and allowing him to be a witness for the prosecution in NIA case number 2 of 2009.

Ahmed is one of the 16 persons chargesheeted by the NIA in this case, which was registered in connection with diversion of government funds meant for development of the area under North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council to the coffers of the Joel Gorlosa faction of Dima Halam Daogah (DHD).

According to the NIA, the money — allegedly to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore — was subsequently used by the DHD (J) to procure arms and ammunition to wage war against the nation.

NIA superintendent of police Debojit Hazarika has filed a petition in the agency’s court stating that Samir Ahmed, who is currently lodged in Guwahati Central Jail, has expressed his willingness to become an approver. He made a confessional statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate on June 20 this year, disclosing his involvement in the case and the role of the other accused.

Section 306 CrPC confers powers on the court to pardon an accused during inquiry or trial with a view to obtaining evidence.

During recording of his statement, Ahmed stated that he was confessing his guilt of his own accord and free will and nobody had forced or induced him to do so.

DHD (J) chairman Joel Gorlosa and commander-in-chief Niranjan Hojai, currently out on interim bail to facilitate the ongoing peace process, have also been chargesheeted by the NIA in the case.

Hazarika has pleaded that Ahmed be tendered pardon on the condition that he makes true and full disclosure of the offence within his knowledge involving himself and the other accused.

The NIA has urged the court that after granting him pardon, Ahmed shall be directed to remain in judicial custody till he is examined as a witness in the case.

Ahmed, who hails from Dibrugarh, was arrested with Gorlosa from Bangalore on June 3, 2009. He was an employee of HSBC Bank, Bangalore, and was living at Bannerughatta Road at the time of his arrest.

According to NIA, Ahmed was a close associate of Gorlosa and had facilitated his stay in Bangalore and helped him obtain fake identity documents.

Ahmed was a classmate of Partho Warisa, an alleged DHD (J) cadre, when he was studying in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao district. Warisa’s name also figures in the NIA chargesheet.