FIRs against ex-CM, 3 ex-CSs and ex-MDS chief
By A Staff Reporter
IMPHAL | Sept 1
As promised by the BJP to probe all irregularities during 15-year long rule of Okram Ibobi Singh the Imphal police station today registered an FIR against former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, three former chief secretaries, a former director of Manipur Development Society (MDS) and an official of the society.
The FIR was registered in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the functioning of MDS. They have been charged under Section 420/460/120-B of IPC and Section 13 (2) of Personal Libailities Act 1998.
The FIR charged the six with cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust. The charge of breach of trust is non-bailable offence and liable to be punished with three years imprisonment with or without fine.
The other five are former project director of MDS, Y. Ningthem Singh, former chief secretary D. S. Ponia, former chief secretary P. C. Lawmkunga, former chief secretary O. Nabakishore Singh and administrative officer of MDS S. Ranjit Singh.
While Poonia and Lawmkunga are already retired, Nabakishore Singh is now director of State Academy of Training.
The FIR was registered after Th. Muhindro Singh, under joint secretary, state planning department directed the suprintendent of police Imphal West, Themgthing Ngashanva today, to register an FIR for investigation on the basis of the findings of an inquiry conducted by the State Vigilance Commission into alleged financial irregularities in the MDS.
Vigilance Commission report named the six persons, stating that they are required for examination for the investigation into financial irregularities in the MDS.
All the three former chief secretaries were chairman of the MDS by virtue of their posts (chief secretary) and Ibobi Singh was also a chairnman of the MDS from July 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014.
The vigilance report said being the then chairman of MDS Ibobi Singh is required to be examined and recording of his statement is required.
“The projects taken up under his (Ibobi) chairmanship and the transaction done by MDS for various project works of line departments during his tenure needs to be verified and studied that no procedural lapses are found and that the prescribed norms and extant rules for implementation of various projects by MDS and other line departments are scrupulously observed in public interest.”
The report further stated that officials and staff of the society had not observed prescribed procedures, established norms etc, thereby facilitating the misappropriation of government funds.
“The enquiry found that a large number of works had been entrusted to work agencies without work agreements and tender procedures. Payments had been made for such works, for which no such procedure had been followed also,” the findings said. The report further said the commission is of the highest opinion that certain persons who can be influential and diktat terms in the functioning of MDS should be included in the examination during the cource of examination.
The joint secretary in his letter to the superintendent of police said the total liabilities to MDS is Rs. 185.79 crore.
The vigilence findings further said measurement books, sanction orders, detailed project reports, cheque issue registers, utilisation certificates etc are not properly maintained by MDS.
“As such the officials and staff of the MDS did not furnish any relevant document leaving an impression to the commission of hatching a criminal conspiracy with common intention to misappropriate government funds for deposit works entrusted to MDS,” the report said.
The vigilance commission recommended for registering a regular FIR for a thorough investigation. The report further said officials of line departments ned to be examined.
Ningthem Singh
The vigilance commission pointed that all the documents and relevant papers including measurement books, detailed project reports, sanction papers are not available at the MDS office at present. It said that all the papers are in possession of Ningthem and needs to be requisitioned from him. It said that his statement is very much required to be recorded to do justice to the case.
Moreover, the bank accounts particularly the saving accounts opened in the name of MDS was operated by him singly or with his staffs needs to be verified and investigated for the purpose of their needs and intentions, the commission submitted.
D.S. Poonia
The Vigilance commission pointed out that a lot of transactions for MDS have been found to be conducted during the tenure of Poonia which is from 2009 till 2013. It said that Poonia is required to be examined and his statement recorded to check procedural lapses if any, and further for Poonia to give justification to the commission of the action done by the MDS during his chairmanship. This is to clear the commission’s doubt that government money has been misappropriated.
Okram Ibobi
The vigilance commission pointed out that O. Ibobi by virtue of being the MDS chairman from 2013 to 2014 is the joint account holder and the joint signatory of MDS bank accounts. The project director Y. Ningthem is not competent to make any transaction without the knowledge of the chairman.
The vigilance commission pointed out that Ibobi is bound to have knowledge of all transactions of MDS during his tenure. It sought that Ibobi is required to be examined and also that his statement must be recorded.
Further that the projects taken up during his tenure and the transaction done by MDS for various project works of line departments during his tenure needs to be verified and studied that no procedural lapses are found and that the prescribed procedures,established norms and extant rules for implementation of various projects by MDS and other line department are scrupulously observed in public interest, the commission said.
Lawmkunga
Being the chief secretary and chairman of MDS from 2014 till 2015, the vigilance commission pointed out that Lawmkunga will have knowledge of all financial transactions. It said that he also should be examined and check if any procedural lapses,financial misappropriation,acts of omission and commission by the officials of MDS has occurred or not during his tenure.
Nabakishore Singh
He was the chairman from 2015 till 2017 and the commission urged that his statement must be recorded and examined, the projects taken up by MDS during his tenure needs to be studied. It said that there may be instances where cheques are countersigned by him being the chairman of MDS and the project director could not have made any transaction without his consent.
Ranjit Singh
The Vigilance commission pointed out that all cheques of agriculture and general administration of MDS will be signed by the project director and administrative officer. It was learnt that cheques have been countersigned by Ranjit and Ningthem and doubts arose to the commission that certain procedure and extant norms have been overlooked with prefixed and predisposed mind causing loss to the government exchequer.
Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/3322-ibobi-in-bjp-crosshairs