Dimapur, July 03, 2010: While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating into the alleged manipulation of tender record by engineers of the Manipur University, another case of fraudulent withdrawal of fund of the University surfaced.

A fraudulent drawal of fund amounting to Rs 14,86,371 was detected in the Manipur University by the Finance Officer before he retired from the job in December, 2009. Singjamei police station of Imphal west has registered a case based on the complaint lodged by the Registrar of the University, Prof N Lokendro Singh with regard to the misappropriation of the fund, an official source said Friday.

The Registrar charged now retired S Shyamjai Singh, Finance Officer of the University for the fraudulent drawal of a sum of Rs 14,86,371 only through cheque no "016998" 7950002005/000030/" 11, dated 15th December 2009 issued in the name of one Th Nilamani Singh without any approval or sanction of the competent authority and without supporting bills.

The matter of alleged fraudulent drawal of the fund came to light when a cheque under the same number was also issued by the Registrar in favour of S Ngangbi Devi, a student of the University for fellowship on December 16, 2009 to the tune of Rs 9,000 which was not accepted by the computer of the bank as the earlier cheque bearing the same number had already cashed.

Following the non-acceptance of the cheque, a department enquiry was initiated against the then Finance Officer, Manipur University namely Dr S Shyamjai by placing him under suspension with effect from 21-12-2009 for the said charges, the Registrar noted in his complaint note lodged with the officer-in charge of the Singjamei police station.

The enquiry officer so appointed submitted his finding on May 17, 2010 and in the report it was observed that "the charged officer being the custodian of public fund needs to be cautioned to be more careful and prudent in discharging his responsibility in future'.

Interestingly, the said amount was later found deposited to the plan account of the University maintained at the SBI, MU campus branch without informing the University authorities, the Registrar reported to the police requesting the police officer to look into the matter personally and take up legal actions for awarding appropriate punishment to the culprits at a early date.

The case of fraudulent drawal of fund from the Manipur University which has been converted into a Central University came to light amid the reports of probing a case in the university related with the manipulation of tender record for contract works related with the repairing of roads inside the University campus by the CBI.

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