IT News
Imphal, June 2:
In one of his unceasing efforts to script history by making a corruption-free Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, on May 13, 2022, directed the authority concerned to process for taking action against the DDO of DIPR Manipur, Lairenlakpam Ashok Kumar in connection with corruption charges levelled against him through a complaint submitted to the Chief Minister. However, no report has been made public yet, brewing the speculations that the department has closed the door to a free and fair inquiry into the matter.
Leveling corruption allegations against Mr. Ashok Kumar, a group of concerned citizens submitted a formal complaint to the Chief Minister, pleading him to take legal action against Mr. Ashok Kumar, who is also the Head of Office.
“Though the DIPR’s sole objective is to bolster the relationship between the government and public to uplift society through various developmental works, some corrupted officials are trying to tarnish the department’s image,” reads the complaint letter accessed by the Naharolgi Thoudang newspaper. “And, DDO Ashok Kumar is one of them.”
One of the allegations leveled against the DDO is a misappropriation of Rs 4, 48,990, which was sanctioned to buy a video camera for covering the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election 2022. However, it is learnt from reliable sources that DIPR hired a camera from private firms at just Rs.2000 per day on two different occasions, but no camera was ever purchased for use in the 12th State Assembly Election.
Another allegation is the embezzlement of Rs 5,79, 200 sanctioned by the government for media coverage of the 12th State Assembly election. He was tasked to pay Rs 25,000 each to District Information Officers of the state’s 16 districts to cover the expenditures in carrying out the poll coverage. He paid deducted amount ranging between Rs 10,000 to 20,000 to the DIOs. But he never paid Rs. 25,000 to any of the DIOs.
A reliable source told the Imphal Times that Mr. Ashok Kumar, taking advantage of not placing him under suspension, has started manipulating documents by taking Actual Payment Receipts (APR) signatures from DIOs in his bid to escape from the allegations and ensued action.
Delay in action against such a corrupt officer displays government’s remarkable ineptitude in handling such corruption cases against its officers. With the delay in taking action, the government is giving the DDO a free hand to manipulate witnesses and documents by misusing his position. As a result, N Biren Singh’s dream of rooting out corruption from Manipur will remain a dream until the concerned department takes bold and swift action. Moreover, if such delays persist in other cases, no whistleblower will come out, and CM’s vision will never be realized.
