IT News
Imphal, June 13:
About a month has passed ever since the state anti-corruption cell, which is being run under the direct supervision of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, received a complaint about the misuse of funds by the officials of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Govt. of Manipur.
A couple of days back, when Imphal Times contacted Dr. Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia, Head of the Public Grievances and Anti-Corruption Cell at the Chief Minister’s Office regarding the matter, it was informed that the case was under investigation and unless there were proper findings, no FIR could be registered. He also told Imphal Times reporter that the investigation might take about 15 days. Imphal Times, at the moment, has no idea whether the investigation is completed or not, but no report of registering of FIR in this connection has been made public. Meanwhile, a highly reliable source told Imphal Times that the Director of DIPR has submitted a clarification regarding the allegations leveled against his officers to the Public Grievances and Anti-Corruption Cell of the Chief Minister’s Office a couple of days back.
Now, the matter is with the anti-corruption cell under the supervision of the Chief Minister that will decide the fate of the DIPR officials. However, one need to remember here is that the DDO of the DIPR, who is accused of misappropriating public funds, is still continuing with official position and duties instead of putting him under suspension during the course of investigation. As he continues to remain in his official position, there are possibilities of misusing his position. Reliable sources said that taking advantage of his position, the DDO had secured the signatures of some DIOs to prove his innocence.
On the other hand, Imphal Times could also access an invoice for procuring a video camera along with accessories amounting to Rs. 4,48,990/- from an electronic shop called BCS Peripherals. There was no date mentioned in the invoice having Sl. No. 2565. As per sources, the video camera along with the accessories was to procure for use in the recently concluded 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2022. When Imphal Times staff investigated, it has been learned that there were 3 (three) Video Cameras before the proposal for procuring the new video camera for use in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election was made. At present, there is six staff in the video section of the DIPR and as per information culled from them, no new video camera was procured for use during the 12th State Assembly election. At present, the video section still has only 3 (three) video cameras including the one at the DIPR Section of the Chief Minister Secretariat. So, it is questionable where the video camera procured for use in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2022 has gone.
Now, another question arises – can government functionary use government money for personal use on failure to utilize the money sanctioned? Maybe such utilization of money for own use is permitted by the DDO of DIPR. It is on record that the DIPR received a sum of Rs. 5,79,200/- for media coverage of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2022. The sanctioned amount included Rs. 25,000/- each for distribution to the District Information Officers (DIOs) of 16 districts. However, DIOs of Kakching, Tengoupal, Noney, Kamjong and Pherzwal were not given the said amount by the DDO on the ground that elections were not conducted by the DCs of these districts. It means that an amount of Rs. 1,25,000/- was unnecessarily put up in the proposal to the government and secured administrative approval as well. Besides, Imphal Times have evidence of the DDO collecting signatures from some DIOs to prove that he had given Rs. 25,000/- each to them although they didn’t get the full amount.
Now, the ball seems to be in the court of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who is all out to wipe out corruption from the state.
