Imphal Police on Friday registered FIRs (First Information Reports) against the former Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh (from 2002 to March 2017), three former Manipur Chief Secretaries D.S. Poonia, O. Nabakishore and P.C. Lawmkawna, and two officials Yambem Ningthem and S. Rojit, in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe into the alleged misuse of ₹179 crore pertaining to the Manipur Development Society (MDS) for providing water sports infrastructure at the Loktak lake.
It was alleged that “officials and staff of the MDS had not observed prescribed procedures, establishment’s norms and extant rules” including “measurement books, detailed project reports and utilisation certification.”
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson K.Ranjit said the Congress, ““welcomes the investigation process”, adding, ���It will help find the out the truth. However, it is too early to say who is guilty and who is not.”
Exposing the alleged corruption in the MDS was one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election promises. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said, “The cabinet approved the proposal to lodge the FIRs.”
The government on Friday also suspended two police officers in connection with the controversial purchase of belts for police and paramilitary personnel. The officers are Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Senapati district P. Goulin and Additional Superintendent of Police of the Imphal East district M. Kumarjit . Retired IPS officer S. Manglemjao’s pension was suspended. The belts were purchased during their tenure.
During a press conference, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh tore the belt with his hands. This was to show that the substandard belt was made mostly with paper.
( Inputs from PTI )
