Imphal, October 04: Ukhrul district is once again in the thick of a storm following allegations that a sum of over Rs 80 lakhs have been withdrawn fraudulently for 16 projects, without any work being done at all.

Taking the battle to the Govt, two MLAs of the district, former YAS Minister A Aza and former Jail Minister Wungnaoshang Keishing have personally written to the Chief Minister highlighting the fraudulent withdrawal of the said amount.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a well placed source said that a Minister is in the thick of the controversy and added that M/S SK Construction, Thangal bazar, had withdrawn over Rs 80 lakhs without doing a single work for 16 projects.

In the written complaint to the Chief Minister, the two MLAs made it clear that if the Chief Minister cannot take any action against the involved Minister, then he should resign.

The source further said that the two MLAs met the Chief Minister today and demanded fitting action against all the guilty.

Following the strong protest lodged by the two MLAs, the Chief Minister has written to Works Minister Th Debendra to take up prompt action in this connection, added the source.

Th Debendra has asked the Chief Minister to give him two days time and assured that all guilty will be given fitting punishment.

The Minister involved is understood to have issued the cheque for the said amount in his office chamber and the same was encashed the same day, said the source.

Other than the Minister concerned, a whole lot of officers from the highest level to the lowest rung have also been named in the fraudulent withdrawal of the money.

The cheques were encashed on December 17 last year, said the source adding that the money for which the works were withdrawn were not in the work programme.

It was included in the maintenance head.

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