Shillong: An FIR was filed on Monday in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds for the procurement of needles and syringes by Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya.

The FIR was lodged by social activist Agnes Kharshiing at Laitumkhrah police station here.

Kharshiing said, "From the bank statements received through the Right to Information Act, 2005, it has been revealed that Rs 39,91,655 was paid to K. Chyrmang and Lucky Bareh" from April 26, 2010, till December 9, 2011, and from January 10, 2012, to May 15, 2017.

"But according to the report, Chyrmang did not own any pharmacy but was using fake cash memos (bearing licence number JH/395-396-397), which the report says, belonged to N. Khonglah. The bank statement shows Rs 30,92,985 had been paid to Chyrmang and Rs 8,98,770 to Bareh, who also supplied fake bills," the FIR said.

Kharshiing said the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya has its bank account in Corporation Bank, Laitumkhrah (account number 101200101000965), and payments have been made to Chyrmang and Bareh for the procurement of needles and syringes by the association.

"There seem to be a deeper conspiracy to (de)fraud the public funds and cheat the state. In the interest of justice, it is urged that an investigation is carried out to bring to book those involved in this criminal conspiracy and (for) putting at risk the lives of injecting drug users, cheating the government of public funds by inflated data through manipulation, inflation of clients, forgery, and malpractices," Kharshiing said.

Following this scam, the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS) has terminated the services of VHAM centre in Jowai and Ladrymbai with effect from December 1. MACS project director Dr L. Lyngdoh confirmed the termination.