MGNREGS case: HC rejects anticipatory bail pleas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 05 2023: Anticipatory bail applications filed by two ward members and one bank official involved in a case relating to misappropriation of wages of job card holders of MGNREGS has been rejected by the High Court of Manipur.

A single bench of justice A Guneshor Sharma conducted-hearing of two anticipatory bail petitions on March 3.The first anticipatory bail was jointly filed by Wangbal GP ward No.1 and 2 members namely Laishram Ongbi Athokpam Thoinu (54), wife of Ibomcha of Wangbal Maning Leikai and Nepram Khomdonbi Devi (46), wife of Inaobi of Wangbal Mayai Leikai as petitioners and officer-in-charge of vigilance & anti-corruption police station, Manipur as respondent while the second one was filed by Thoudam Kamala (42), daughter of Modhu of Wangbal Mayai Leikai as petitioner and officer in-charge of vigilance & anti-corruption police station, Manipur as respondent.

As per the affidavit filed by the state against the anticipatory bail petitions, the two ward members in coordination with business correspondent of PNB Wave and some unidentified officials of the bank, officials of BDO and individuals misappropriated wages of job card holders.

These people deprived job card holders of their entitled wages by using duplicate job cards and opening fake bank accounts.

The affidavit also mentioned about the need for custodial interrogation of all the petitioners to identify the role of co-accuses in the case.

As per an order passed by the same court relating to an FIR registered on April 8, 2022, investigation of the case has been continuing after registering an FIR.

During the course of investigation, it was found that one of the accused namely Thoudam Kamala works as business correspondent agent of Punjab National Bank (PNB), currently posted at the Thoubal branch, and is fully conversant with the working system.

Taking advantage of her position, Kamala opened bank accounts in the names of many job card holders residing in Wangbal GP in coordination with ward members Thoinu and Khomdonbi.

However, bank passbooks and account numbers were not handed over or disclosed to the account holders.

According to the affidavit, Kamala used to withdraw money from account holders of Wangbal GP through compact biometric USB and hence job card holders are completely unaware of the money transaction taking place through their accounts.

After withdrawing money with the help of thump impression of account holders on morpho machine, Kamala distributed wages to job card holders after huge deduction as per advice of the two ward members.

After careful study of the affidavit, the court said that the petitioners duped job card holders while some bank accounts of job card holders were found to be opened in the name of mentally unsound persons.

During the course of the investigation, none of the petitioners visited IO of the case or extended help.

The court then opined that interrogation and examination of the petitioners are required and accordingly rejected both the anticipatory bail applications.

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