Demand for impartial probe into IMC scam legitimate
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 10, 2022 -

IT'S obvious that the Imphal Municipal Corporation Ward Number 1 corporator, who is facing accusation of siphoning off development fund of the corporation without actual execution of projects, can't be the only person involved in the scam.

After compelling the IMC authorities to reveal the real identity of the 'ghost' contractor in the aftermath of Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykisan going public about the fund embezzlement, a committee has been constituted to investigate the same.

In case of judicious and transparent investigation then there is strong possibility of exposing more corrupt elements within the IMC or in the line and parent departments as the contract assignment handed to CG Rongmei and withdrawal of bill entail official procedures, even if the projects haven't been implemented.

Due to suspicion about involvement of higher-ups of the departments concerned in the scam, the Thangmeiband legislator has been insisting that the probe must be handed over to trustworthy agents to ensure thorough and impartial investigation.

The MLA has every reason to suspect that the probe might not be fair as neither the accused corporator has stepped down nor has the task for investigation assigned to an independent body with exception from the IMC caretaker mayor giving the assurance of unearthing all wrongdoings, that too after repeated demands by Joykisan.

Now that the MLA went on record stating that there must be a bigger gang to siphon off IMC fund just like GG Rongmei did, it is imperative that the government authorities look into the matter and leave no stone unturned to book all the corrupt elements.

The government authorities too owe an explanation as whether or not there is substance in Joykisan's assertion that corporators are elected to look after rules and regulations of IMC and should abstain from involvement in contract works of the Corporation.

However, there is merit in his demand that the caretaker mayor and his entire corporator colleagues should be asked to keep away from all IMC activities for some time so as to bring out the truth about the scandal of enlisting GG Rongmei as a contractor without verifying who actually operates the work agency itself implies that the IMC authorities aren't incorruptible.

Considering the fact that the contractor withdrew work bills amounting to crores of rupees but without executing the assigned projects there should be prompt initiation of punitive action against the corporator contractor for it is clear that the accused person has been unfazed by the charges levelled against him by the MLA under whose constituency IMC ward number i falls.

Therefore, intervention of the state government to ensure thorough investigation into the case is imperative as members of the enquiry committee formed to investigate the scandal in IMC are all members of the same corporation.

With MLA joykisan also offering to extend help and provide evidences in bringing out truth about the scandal, the government should spare no effort to expose and penalise anybody found misusing public money.

Having regularly pledged in public platforms to eradicate the malaise of corruption from the society, it is hoped that chief minister N Biren wouldn't play deaf and dumb on the matter.