Probe into 'missing' computer sets, furniture begins
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 16 2016 :
As com-puter sets and furniture items worth around Rs 90 lakh reportedly purchased by Social Welfare Department in 2011-12 'disappeared' without any trace, a high power committee headed by the Chief Secretary as chairman has started inves-tigation into the matter.
Acting on reports that many discrepancies were committed in the process of purchasing different items by Social Welfare Department, the State Vigilance Commission was roped in to carry out an investigation.
In the course of the investigation, many anomalies and discrepancies were detected.
Documents investigated by the Vigilance Commission revealed that around Rs 90 lakh were sanctioned by the Social Welfare Department to purchase computer sets and fur- niture items, informed a well placed source.
On further investigation into the firms which 'supplied' the computer sets and the furniture items, it was discovered that these firms were nondescript ones which were not registered.
To know the truth about these firms, the Commission took help from police and even Taxation Department.
Even as the Vigilance team went to Saitu-Gamphazol, Jiribam and Moreh in the course of the investigation, they could not find any of the items purportedly purchased by the department.
Subsequently, the Vigilance Commission recom- mended the high power committee to recuperate the amount of around Rs 90 lakh from the then Director and scheme officers.
Based on the Commission's report, the high power committee took up a case and held a meeting in the first week of June this year.
The committee asked the then Director and scheme officers to furnish written explanations regarding the case.
The Vigilance Commission is also investigation into another case pertaining to non-distribution of pension to pensioners by the department even as the Central Government released Rs 1.2 crore for the same purpose.
Records available in the department said that the amount was transferred to District Social Welfare Officers.
But the officers were contending that they did not receive any money for payment of pension.
As such, the Commission has been investigating into the matter with local fund auditors.