Accused in graft case gets bail, another nabbed
UDC arrested taking taking bribe for enlistment of job aspirants in police department
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 15 2022:
The court of Special Judge, Imphal West on Tuesday granted bail to one Moirangthem Bijoy (43) of Singjamei Chingamakha, one of the two staffers of Treasury Office, Imphal, who were accused of demanding money from a retired army man when the latter came to withdraw his pension.
The bail application filed by Bijoy was heard by the court on Tuesday, which granted his plea, while rejecting the remand prayer of the case IO.
Based on the report filed by the retired army man, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Manipur registered an FIR.
The complainant had alleged that when he went to the Treasury Office, Imphal to withdraw his remaining pension amount, UDC (supervisor) Bijoy Ku mar demanded payment of Rs 15,000, while EOC (dealing clerk) L Lalminthang asked for Rs 5000.Consequently, a team led by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Inspector K Boby went with the complainant to the Treasury office and carried out a sting operation.
After the accused were paid the money, the team immediately body-searched Bijoy and Lalminthang.
Around Rs 55,000 including Rs 5000 paid by the complainant was recovered from Bijoy, while Rs 4000 including the Rs 1500 paid by the complainant from Lalminthang, the case IO's report informed.
The counsel of the accused argued that the main witnesses in the case were all personnel of the Vigilance and Anti Corruption PS and as such, it is impossible for the accused to be a threat to them.
In addition, the accused is a government employee and it is again impossible for him to turn hostile.
Whether the accused is guilty or not will be known only at the final hearing of the case, the counsel argued.
After listening to arguments of both sides, the court observed that the accused could be grant -ed bail in view of the present status of investigation of the case.
Thus, it granted bail to accused Bijoy on execution of a PR Bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety bond of similar amount.
It further directed the accused to deposit Rs 20,000 (refundable) and to extend his full cooperation in the investigation.
The accused must present himself before the court or the IO whenever required and is prohibited from travelling out of the state without the court's permission.
Meanwhile, an Upper Division Clerk (UDC) of the Employment Exchange, Imphal West was arrested on corruption charges in connection with the ongoing submission of application forms for recruitment to the posts of follower, constable and head constable in the Manipur Police Department.
The arrested UDC has been identified as Laishram Raghumani (57) s/o (L) Kali of Nambol Bazar.
He is currently employed as a UDC at the office of Employment Exchange, Imphal West in Lamphelpat.
According to a statement released by the Superintendent of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Manipur, in connection with an FIR registered by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption PS under Section 7 of PC Act, a team of the PS arrested Raghu-mani at around 5.30 pm on Tuesday.
The FIR was registered against Raghumani based on a complaint made to the Public Grievance Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell operated from the CM Secretariat.
The complaint stated that the staffers of Employment Exchange, Imphal West were making monetary demands from candidates who came to submit the application forms for recruitment to the posts of follower, constable and head constable in the state Police Department.
The complaint was forwarded to the SP of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Manipur and the case was registered on November 15 after a detailed inquiry.
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