MANIPUR: 96 CASES TAKEN UP IN PAST ONE YEAR : SP (VIGILANCE)

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, Manipur registered 96 cases covering 50 different Departments.

During the period from April 1 till March 31 said SP (Vigilance) Shri Hopson Sapam the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, Manipur registered 96 cases covering 50 different Departments.

He was interacting with media persons at the Series of Press Conferences of Head of Departments organised by DIPR Manipur at Moirangkhom office complex today.

Shri Hopson Sapam said that six enquiry cases were recommended for major penalty while nine for minor penalty during this time. He further said that 67 enquiry cases (including old cases registered before April 1, 2017) were disposed off/closed during this period.

The Department also converted nine enquiry cases into FIR cases apart from submitting charge-sheets to the respective Courts for ten different cases during this period, he said while adding that one final report was also submitted to the concerned Court.

Taking part at the press conference, Inspector (IO) Th. Ranjan said that the cases which were taken up by the Department in the past one year included alleged irregularities detected in Manipur Development Society (MDS), Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and Education Engineering Wing etc.

 During a course of enquiry of Vigilance Case No. 59/PE/SP-V/2016, it was established that an amount of Rs. 184,42,11,478,56 was suspected to have been misappropriated by the former Project Director of MDS in collusion with other officials of the Society by means of dishonest and fraudulent manner. After a proper enquiry, the Vigilance Commission registered a regular FIR case under FIR No. 3 (08) 2017-VPS u/s 420/403/409/120-B/34 IPC and 13 (i) (c) P.C. Act, Shri Ranjan said while adding that the State Government later handed over the case to CBI for further investigations.

 Regarding the case of LDA, he informed that during the course of enquiry of Vigilance Case No. 2/SP-V&AC/2018, it was revealed that the then Chairman of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) along with two former Project Directors (Member Secretary) of LDA took a decision in a meeting held on 05/08/2008 without any consent of the Cabinet or other member of LDA in which M/s Progressive Construction Ltd., Hyderabad was allowed to execute work for removal of Phumdi in Loktak Lake without calling any tender at the estimated cost of Rs. 3,06,10,000. It indicated that LDA favoured M/s Progressive Construction Ltd., Hyderabad by abusing their official position, he added.

 Shri Ranjan further said that it is also alleged that the tender committee of LDA accepted a single tender by negotiating the rates offered by M/s K. Pro Infra Works Private Ltd. of Rs. 22439.24 lakh against sanctioned amount of Rs. 22373.52 lakh (in excess of 65 lakhs).

After a thorough enquiry of these irregularities, the Vigilance Commission registered a regular FIR case under FIR No. 5 (3) 2018-V&ACPS u/s 420/120-B IPC & Section 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (d) of P.C. Act, 1988 against the accused persons for further investigation, he added.

Shri Ranjan further said that during the course of enquiry of Vigilance Case No. 10/PE/SP-V&AC/2018, it was detected that the Chief Engineer, Education Engineering Wing, Manipur demanded a sum of Rs. 50,000 in his office chamber located at D.M. College Campus, Imphal from an unknown person. As such, the Commission registered a regular FIR case under FIR No. 4 (3) 2018-V&ACPS u/s 7 & 13 (1) (a) (b) r/w 13 (2) P.C Act 1988 for further investigation.

Shri Ranjan further said that the Department has also taken up a case regarding falling down of a portion of ceiling of Shed No. 1 of New Market No. 3 (Ima Keithel) on April 24, 2018 after conducting an enquiry and spot verification.

Taking part at the press conference, Inspector (Establishment) Mawyi Vaiphei said that during the period from April 1, 2017 till March 31, 2018, action was recommended in two cases of Directorate of Health Services and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department and one case each of Education, IFCD, Toursim, Excise, ADC, Police Co-operative and Settlement Departments.

Inspector (Establishment) RK Bikramjit said that despite manpower inadequacy, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, Manipur has been devotedly working towards prevention of corruption in the State.