No inquiry has begun since the filing of the complaint case for the misuse of Saubhagya Scheme funds on November 7, 2022
IT News
Imphal, Apr 4:
For reason best known to the competent authority of the Manipur Lokayukta, no proceedings seem to be taken up to the complaint lodged for conducting an inquiry into the infamous Rs. 200 + crore scam in the course of implementing Saubhagya Scheme in Manipur.
Small talk started reaching out to many people of the state questioning the seriousness and efficiency of Manipur Lokayukta in dealing with complaints lodged in corruption cases. Everyone knows that Saubhagaya is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious scheme to ensure electricity to all the people of the state.
It’s been four and a half months since the complaint case was filed with Manipur Lokayukta to investigate the misuse of funds for the implementation of the Saubhagya Scheme in Manipur State by top officials of Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited.
On November 7, 2022, one RTI activist, Khumanthem Dhanachandra Singh, filed a complaint case to the Manipur Lokayukta against MSPDCL officials to investigate large-scale irregularities, manipulation, and misappropriation of funds while implementing the Saubhagya Scheme to the tune of over Rs. 200 crores in Manipur.
On November 24, 2022, an order was passed by the Chairperson of the Manipur Lokayukta, to start the preliminary investigation into the said case.
As per sub-section (4) of section 20 of the Manipur Lokayukta Act, 2014, every preliminary inquiry should ordinarily be completed within a period of 90 days from the receipt of the complaint.
Referring to other cases investigated by the Manipur Lokayukta, the Manipur Lokayukta dealt with all of them seriously, but in this case, the Manipur Lokayukta appears to be ignoring it from all angles.
The Manipur Lokayukta came into existence on 1st April 2016 under the Manipur Lokayukta Act, 2014 (Manipur Act No. 11 of 2014) to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. A complaint can be made before the Lokayukta against any public servant defined under Section 2(1) (m) and referred to in Clauses (a) to (g) of Sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Manipur Lokayukta Act, 2014. Public servant means a person defined under Section 2(1) (m) and referred to in clauses (a) to (g) of sub-section of section 14 of the Manipur Lokayukta Act, 2014, but does not include a public servant in respect of whom the jurisdiction is exercisable by any court or other authority under the Army Act, 1950, the Air Force Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Coast Guard Act, 1978 or the procedure is applicable to such public servant under those Acts. Under Sub-Section (3) of Section 14, the Lokayukta may Inquire into any act or conduct of any person other than those referred to in sub-section (1), if such person is involved in the act of abetting, bribe giving or bribe taking or conspiracy relating to any allegation of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against a person referred to in sub-section (1). Provided that no action under this section shall be taken in case of a person serving in connection with the affairs of the Union without the consent of the Central Government.
