Fighting Corruption Or Vindictive Politics?

During its election campaign in Manipur in the early part of 2017, BJP swore to fix accountability for the gross misrule perpetuated in the border state by the Congress, tagging then Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh as the 20 percent CM alleging, he takes that much commission for each and every developmental projects executed in the state during his 15 year rule of Manipur as the Congress’ Chief Minister since 2002.

- Sunzu Bachaspatimayum

Seven months after assuming power, on September 2 nd , the BJP led N Biren Singh government registered an FIR for offences of cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust against the former Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh and three former chief secretaries, DS Poonia, PC Lawmkunga and O Nabakishore Singh in a case pertaining to financial irregularities in managing Manipur’s premier construction and employment generating agency, Manipur Development Society, MDS. The misappropriation amounts to ₹ 185.79 crore and it is hashtagged as MDS scam now. The FIR came after the state’s Vigilance Department submitted its inquiry report on financial irregularities of MDS acting on a complaint filed by the Planning Department in November 2016.

Others named in the scam are MDS’s former Project Director, Yambem Ningthem Singh and the agency’s Administrative Officer, S Ranjit Singh.

According to the State Vigilance Commission inquiry report, the officials and staff of MDS flaunted established procedures, norms and rules particularly while awarding contract works to agencies and caused a financial liability to the tune of ₹185.79 crores. Police source said the FIR lodged would help in establishing how and who were responsible for the procedural lapses,  mismanagement, misappropriation and misuse of public fund. Police suspects Yambem Ningthem as responsible for concealing missing documents that the Vigilance inquiry reported in the case of MBs, DPRs, sanction papers of MDS. It is under Ningthem’s tenure as Project Director that the police are investigating for financial irregularities.