'Ghost' contractor netted, mayor junks MLA's claim
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 09 2022: Contractor GG Rongmei has been arrested based on an FIR registered by City police station regarding procurement of work order using fake documents and remanded him to six days police custody after being produced in a court on Thursday.

GG Rongmei, full name Gangmei Gaidon Rongmei, aged 41, son of late G Khamningam Rongmei of Tarung Thangmeiband, Imphal West was arrested by a team of City PS Thursday around 10.45am on Thursday and produced before CJM Imphal West.

He was arrested from Naoremtheng Samushang Lairembi.

IO of the case submitted before the court that ex-corpo-rator (June 2016-June 2021) of IMC Ward No 1 Gangmei Gaidon Rongmei used fake documents to register as special class con tractor GG Rongmei at Manipur Police Housing Corporation and procured work order instead of using real name.

As per the report provided in this regard by Manipur Police Housing Corporation to IMC, there is no contractor by the name of GG Rongmei but has G Gaidon Rongmei of Tarung Thangmeiband regis -tered as contractor in the same registration number.

The IO of the case also submitted before the court that a written report of Central Bank of India (CBI), Checkon branch named GG Rongmei as G Gaidon Rongmei, son of Khamningam Rongmei of Tarung Thangmeiband based on KYC details in the bank account.

While placing before the court that arrested G Gaidon Rongmei confessed to whatever illegal act he committed, the IO sought remand for further questioning and the court after hearing the IO's submission, remanded him to six days in police custody till June 14.Meanwhile, Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) caretaker mayor L Lokeshwar has denied the charges levelled by Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykisan during a press meet held on Wednesday claiming that a contractor GG Rongmei had misappropriated Rs 10 crore worth of funds meant for development works, as baseless allegations.

In a press meet held at IMC here on Thursday, Lokeshwar informed that Rs 8,30,51,267 was sanctioned for IMC as 15th Finance Type fund.

Of this around, Rs 2,00,87,800 is designated for the municipal level and while Rs 6.2 crore is for the ward level, with each ward receiving Rs 22 lakh.

Of the same amount, Rs 11 lakh was used in construction of retaining walls and contractors received around Rs 8 lakh after GST charge.

The remaining Rs 11.15 lakh was utilised in installing dustbins in each ward, which are being supplied by GK Plastic Industries, he conveyed, while adding that the work is still ongoing.

Commenting that MLA Joykisan's claims of Rs 10 crore of IMC funds being siphoned off is vexatious; Lokeshwar remarked that GG Rongmei's fault lies in the fact he posed as contractor, when he was, in fact, a corporator.

He is also at fault for forging documents and indulging in contract works under the pseudonym of GG Rongmei instead of Gangmei Gaidon Rongmei.

Regarding his (GG Rongmei) disqualification, the caretaker mayor said that the disqualification process will follow proper channel.

However, it would be wrong to assume that GG Rongmei had spent all of the funds for all 27 wards, he said, adding that it should be only 23 Wards at most.

Lokeshwar then said that the Committee formed in this regard is inspecting the works taken up in the Wards.

The Amrut Park lacks the state's shares and as such, the Committee is looking into the matter.

The Committee also took the statements of the staff of the engineering section on Thursday.

In addition, GG Rongmei was given the work order during the term of the then EO Ch Menaka.

When the Committee further investigated, the Manipur Police Housing Corporation provided a certified copy stating that there is no contractor by the name of GG Rongmei, except for G Gaidon Rongmei, the caretaker mayor conveyed.

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