Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 16:
Along with registering a case under the Money Laundering Act for the first time in Manipur, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is under the Union Finance Ministry has started investigation into a case related to fraudulent withdrawal of a huge amount of pension money from the Thoubal Treasury against the names of pensioners who are no more or without the knowledge of the pensioners concerned.
It is said some of the MLAs who allegedly tried to interfere and stop the investigation from proceeding further may also be covered under the purview of the ED's investigation.
In connection with the same case, the State Government has also given instruction to the Accountant General for conducting a special audit of all the works in the treasuries related to issuing and withdrawal of pension.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, an official source said that after the case of fraudulent withdrawal of a huge amount of pensionary entitlement from Thoubal Treasury came to the notice of the Government, a special audit was carried out by the Accountant General of Manipur and detected that around Rs 70 lakhs had already been withdrawn.
Subsequently, the case was handed over to the Enforcement Directorate for further investigation in December last year.
The ED has communicated to the State Government regarding commencement of the probe after registering a case, the source disclosed, adding that an official team of the Directorate is likely to land at Imphal soon for a more thorough investigation.
Along with detecting involvement of bank officials and some other individuals who connived with officials of the Thoubal Treasury for the fraudulent withdrawal, the State Government on its part, had asked the police to take up necessary cases including against the UBI Thoubal Branch.
Subsequently, a staff of the bank had been arrested in connection with the case.
During the course of the special audit carried out by the AG of Manipur, it was found that over Rs 70 lakhs had already been withdrawn on fictitious names of pensioners who do not correspond to the code numbers issued by the AG, the source further disclosed, adding that the treasury in-charge of Thoubal Treasury has also been suspended in connection with this case.
Following the Thoubal treasury case, the State Government has also given instruction to the AG for conducting special audit of all other treasuries as well, the source said.
It may be recalled here that State Vigilance is also currently investigating into the case related to fraudulent withdrawal of pension from the Thoubal Treasury.
In order to streamline the system of issuing pension and leave no room for irregularities, the State Government had roped in the service of the NIC.
However, around 6000 pensioners did not turn for taking their photographs which are essential for identification.
On the other hand, in connection with the case of withdrawal of GPF of Government employees without the knowledge of the employees concerned wherein in some cases the withdrawal exceed the balance amount, the Finance Department has given necessary directives to all officials concerned for ensuring maintenance of zero-balance of all such accounts within the current fiscal.
Otherwise, salaries of all the DDOs concerned would be held back.