Ibobi assures full co-operation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 24 2020: Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today declared that he will extend full cooperation to the CBI investigation of fund mismanagement in Manipur Development Society (MDS) .

Speaking to media persons at a Congress Party camp at Patsoi in Imphal West, Ibobi said he was the Chairman of MDS from July 2013 to August 2014 .

However some newspapers have reported that he was the Chairman for eight years i.e from 2009 to 2017, which is incorrect, he claimed.

He said a CBI team came today saying they have been directed to speed up the investigation.

They asked his family particulars, age, Bank Account Numbers, Pan Number, Aadhaar and Income Tax details, which he agreed to provide.

He said he will extend full cooperation to the investigation.

Narrating how he became the Chairman of MDS, he said he had no interest in becoming the Chairman of MDS and also according to the Rules and Regulations of MDS, the Chief Secretary should be the one to hold the post of Chairman.

The role of the Chairman in the functioning of MDS is very minimal according to the RR of MDS.

The then Chief Secretary DS Poonia came to him one morning at the CM Bungalow where he was at a meeting with some MLAs.

The Chief Secretary informing about various department depositing funds in the MDS and proposed that he become the Chairman.

As he was already engaged in monitoring other departments Ibobi rejected the proposal.

However the people present on that day urged him to hold the post with a promise to provide all the needed help.

He claimed that all he did was to chair the annual general body meeting.

According to the rule, the Project Director conducts all the financial activities, sanctions and signing of cheques.

But when the Chief Secretary was the Chairman, all the financial activities were conducted jointly by the Chief Secretary and the Project Director by opening a joint bank account.

And also when writing a cheque the Chief Secretary counter signs the same.

He maintained that in his short duration as the Chairman no bank account was opened and there was also no proposal of a joint signatory.

"I have never signed any cheque during my tenure as the Chairman.

There was also no proposal for any sanction or work order.

"If there is fund missing from the State Exchequer and if I am involved then there is the Court to provide punishment.

"As far as I know there is no fund mismanagement in the State Exchequer.

Everything is on record," he added.

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