Contractors, suppliers accuse Director in charge Fisheries Dept of fraud
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 27 2018:
Numerous contractors and suppliers have accused the Director in-charge of Fisheries Department of misappropriating a large number of funds in the name of the contractors and suppliers.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club during a press meet organised by the suppliers, contractors and beneficiaries of Fishery Department, Romen Kongbam, proprietor of M/S Kongbam Agency alleged that the present Director in-charge of the Fisheries Department, H Biramani has misappropriated a huge amount of funds in cahoots with the Treasury by depositing all the funds, which are supposed to be deposited directly to the DDO accounts of the beneficiaries, into his account by violating the instructions of the Finance Department.
He further claimed that all the cheques which were supposed to be issued in the name of the suppliers and contractors were instead issued in the name of two of the Director's staff.
Pointing out that the Director has misused the funds meant for five beneficiaries till date, Romen explained that Director Biramani withdrew funds amounting to crores by issuing cheques in the names of the two staff without the knowledge of the beneficiaries.
And in the Department's records, it was written in the name of the contractors and suppliers, he claimed.
Romen stated that numerous memos were submitted to the Secretary and Minister concerned regarding the issue but to no avail.
After the beneficiaries made a complaint to the PM, PMO sent a letter directing the Chief Secretary to investigate the claims/allegations against the Director in-charge.
But in a shocking twist, the Chief Secretary instructed the Director in-charge to conduct the investigation, although he is the one misappropriating the funds, he added.
Demanding the authority concerned to make necessary arrangements for investigation by an independent body, Romen claimed that the case of fund misappropriation came to light after Vigilance questioned one of the contractors in connection with the withdrawal of funds.
The said contractor did not get any work order but funds were still missing, Romen said and added that a complaint was even made to Anti Corruption Cell on June 2 this year.