Extortion probe: NIA summons former Nagaland CM TR Zeliang

Barely a week after election results were published in Nagaland, former CM TR Zeliang has been summoned by NIA in connection with extortion probe. He was CM of the state in two terms from May 2014 to February 2017 and later July 2017 to March 2018. 

According to reports, NIA has summoned Zeliang to appear before its officials on March 13, i.e on Tuesday. He has to appear in NIA's New Delhi office and has to account for the alleged payments given by the government departments to banned terror organisation NSCN(K). He has been asked to bring along documents relevant to 'payments received from the government departments'. 

NSCN(K) was banned by the government in 2015. It used to collect 'tax' from 24 government departments, a case which was busted by NIA in 2016. In the garb of 'tax', NSCN(K) was running an extortion racquet. Money to the tune of Rs 20 crore was allegedly paid as bribe to the terror organisation. The money was used by the organisations to fund its anti-India terror activities. 

Before elections, NIA had summoned three of Zeliang's senior officers, including his OSD for questioning. Zeliang's name has come out during the probe, which has lead to him being summoned. NIA gave a chargesheet in this case in 2017.