Imphal, January 22: The Special Court (No.1 Manipur West) has sentenced two senior doctors, who were found guilty of swindling Government money while procuring medical equipments, to three years rigorous imprisonment over and above imposing Rs 1 lakh as fine on each of them.

Pronouncing the verdict today Judge Th Surbala Devi directed the duo namely Gurumayum Mani Sharma who is the Medical Superintendent of State's Tuberculosis Hospital and Ayekpam Gojendra Singh, who is the Chief Medical Officer of Imphal, to deposit the fine amount within one month.

Following applications filed by the duo, the Court, however, granted bail to them.

The bail applications mentioned their pleas for challenging today's Court order before the High Court.

Advocate Y Chitrabhanu Devi, Assistant Public Prosecutor who appeared on behalf of the State Government said that the two had already been convicted under different sections of Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act relating to cheating, forgery and abetment of conspiracy on December 29 last year.

The case unfolded way back in 1981 wherein the duo, who were then holding the posts of Medical Officer and MO in-charge of Sterilisation and Stores respectively in the Family Welfare Department procured 40 electrical cauteries at an exorbitant rate of about Rs 2 lakhs by using forged bills.

The price of a cautery was quoted to be Rs 4,980 though the market rate of the same was only Rs 445 .

The Deputy Secretary Thokchom Surjit was also accused in the case but he expired while the case was pending in the Court.

In February, 1982, Imphal Police Station registered an FIR case on the matter and on August 21 of the same year, CBI took up the case and investigated the case and submitted the charge sheet against the duo few years back.

Special Public Prosecutor P Ibomcha Singh, who led the State Prosecution in dealing with the case on behalf of the State is also currently dealing another sensitive case beyond Imphal.

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