Lamka, October 17 2009: In a startling revelation, development funds to the tune of Rs 4.45 crore has been discovered to have been mysteriously withdrawn within a span of 12 days from UBI Churachandpur branch through an individual account of a DRDA staffer here, apparently without notice of neither the bank nor the DRDA.

The offence reportedly came to notice only on October 15, a good twelve days after the first withdrawal.

In his complaint to the police, DRDA's Executive Engineer RK Biren Singh, from whose account (No.025501217835) the cash withdrawals were made, claimed that the signatures on the cheque leaf used for withdrawing the funds are forged and that he had no knowledge of them.

"This amount was fraudulently withdrawn in connivance and criminal conspiracy by aforesaid drawee and concerned bank staff," he alleged.

The complainant also said, the amount relates to Multi Sectoral Development Programme, (MSDP) a noble programme to be implemented through the DRDA.

In detailing sequences of events, it was alleged that Rs.5,86,68,065 was initially deposited in the EE's account for onward disbursement to the village implementing committee (VIC).

Of these, Rs.1,28,16,535 were miscredited to a private saving account under unknown circumstances but rectified later while an amount of Rs.4,54,00,000 was withdrawn fraudulently on three different days in six draws, which was noticed only on Thursday.

The fraudulent withdrawal, according to the complaint, was effected under cheque nos., 230984, 230985, 230986 and 230987 on October 3, 2009 with an amount of Rs.82,00,000 each for every cheque leaf.

On October 7, 2009 Rs.40,00,00 was withdrawn with cheque no.230985, and Rs.86,00,000 again withdrawn on October 14 under cheque no.230991 .

Accusing the bank staff of conniving in the fraudulent withdrawal, the EE expressed 'it is very strange why the bank allowed the drawal of such an amount without proper verification'.

Moreover there is provision and practice of Security Cover Certificate for more than Rs.50,000 but that was not fully adhered to as well, he asserted and added that there is no certificate to prove that the certificate produced for Rs.4,14,00,000 was not forged as well.

When enquired about the Security Cover Certificate that was supposedly issued by the police, SP/CCPur RB Sharma denied the involvement of his force and simply dubbed the entire affair as a clandestine exercise based solely on forged papers.

Though refusing to comment much on the police investigation, the SP said due to the serious nature of the offence the Additional SP Bimolchand Singh was entrusted in to investigate the matter.

Otherwise it was the OC or his sub-ordinates that usually investigate any crime reported with the police, he said.

When asked whether he was confident of tracing the culprits, the SP said, "We should be".

He also snubbed the contention that an individual or two could be behind the crime.

With the police lodging an FIR under section 419/420/468/471/120-B of the Indian Penal Code the arrested duo � Dy Manager, Pumkhogin and Cashier, Benjamin of the UBI were taken to Imphal today for interrogation, while there are also reports of the police detaining the dealing Clerk and the EE concerned of the DRDA.

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