Huge amount withdrawn using forged CDA, Cong alleges
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 03 2018: Taking advantage of the hectic official works necessitated by the closure of the financial year 2017-18, several crores have been withdrawn from Works Department using forged Cheque Drawal Authority (CDA), alleged Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here this evening, MPCC spokesman Hareshwar Goswami claimed that the Principal Secretary (Finance) wrote to the Principal Secretary (Works) on April 2 to look into the matter of drawing Government funds using forged CDA.

The letter written by Principal Secretary (Finance) Vineet Joshi mentioned that a complaint was lodged at Imphal police station on April 1 for a thorough investigation into the case of withdrawing several crores using forged CDA.

It further asked Finance Department to re-verify all the CDAs issued during the month of March and take up necessary actions.

Huge amount withdrawn using forged CDA, Cong alleges

The letter also asked Works Department to ensure not to sub-allocate CDA, cheques are not drawn against sub-allocation and reverse payment (if there is any) against CDA sub-allocation in case if there is any CDA which has been issued without the authority of Finance Department.

In the meantime, Finance Department has been collecting a list of all the CDAs issued during the month of March with regard to Works Department.

Once this exercise is completed, the list would be made available to Works Department, mentioned the letter written by Vineet Joshi.

The same letter is attached with documents pertaining to proposals for allocation of CDAs for Rs 44.72 lakh and Rs 1.61 crore.

Producing the letter written by the Principal Secretary (Finance) before media persons, Hareshwar Goswami alleged that the BJP-led Government has been committing all kinds of frightening activities contrary to their election promise of accomplishing in 15 months what Congress could not in 15 years.

Even though Anti-Corruption Cell has been opened apart from refurbishing the Vigilance Department in the name of ensuring transparency and curbing corruption, the incumbent Government has done nothing substantial except for suspension of some lower level employees, remarked the Congress spokesman.

He further alleged that the BJP-led Government has earned the distinction of witnessing the biggest ever scandal in the State during its tenure.

He alleged that several departments have been indulging in a looting spree.

Hareshwar Goswami said that the PWD scandal should be handed over to an independent investigation agency like the CBI.

All such ugly incidents during the short period of the BJP-led Government clearly indicates that the Government is not competent enough, Hareshwar alleged and demanded resignation of Chief Minister N Biren on moral ground.

MPCC organisation secretary and spokesman S Manaobi (Khoiranthaba) remarked that drawal of a huge amount of money using forged CDAs from PWD testifies that the incumbent Government is highly corrupt.

The Government's intention to loot public money as much as possible has now come out in black and white, Manaobi alleged.

Saying that the Chief Minister should be held accountable for all such acts of corruption, Manaobi too demanded resignation of N Biren.

Apart from booking all the culprits, all the public money they swindled should be recovered, he demanded.

Commenting on the missing arms case, Manaobi asked whether the incumbent Government can claim that they are not involved in the case.