Imphal, April 19: The Treasury Officer of Lamphel Sub-Treasury office has been placed under suspension in connection with the alleged Rs 40,000 commission demanded for passing bills of Medical Department.

Mention may be made that the Lamphel Treasury office had allegedly insisted and extracted Rs 40,000 from employees of the Medical Department to clear bills amounting to Rs 4,01,10,960 released under the 2004-05 plan scheme in connection with which a Vigilance Department inquiry had also been ordered.

Informed source disclosed the name of the suspended officer as one T Manihar.

The Vigilance probe is based on a complaint submitted to the Chief Minister on March 31 by the Medical Department alleging that a Rs 40,000 deal was struck with the Lamphel Treasury Office for clearance of pending Medical Department bills before the expiry of the last fiscal.

The Government in an order issued yesterday said that the Assistant Commissioner of Imphal West, S Binodini will be given temporary charge of the post of the suspended officer, T Manihar (SDC).

The order further envisages necessary disciplinary proceedings against Manihar and prohibits the Treasury Officer beyond the district headquarters with prior consent of the Government.

The Vigilance probe team tripped on facts which negate the Treasury office contention that due to delay by the health Department authorities the said bill could not be cleared, said a separate source.

In contrast, the ongoing investigation could establish that bills submitted by other departments were passed by the Treasury Office and could be encashed in time inspite of being submitted later than the Medical Dept, claimed the source while adding that final preparation are on to forward the probe report to the Govt.It may be recalled that the Treasury Office had rubbished the medical Department assertion on the controversial �negotiation� as unfounded and baseless in a memorandum re-submitted to the Chief Minister.

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