Corruption slur cast on then DDO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 16 2019: At a time when the N Biren led State Government is supposedly working to eradicate corruption and take necessary action against those responsible for misusing public funds and money, an issue regarding loss/misuse of around Rs 29.67 crore of the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department has reared its ugly head.

According to a reliable source, misuse of funds in the Department as well as inability to implement the funds sanctioned by the Government had been some issues which have been plaguing the Department for a long time and after conducting necessary investigation, it came to light that there was a huge inconsistency between the funds mentioned in the Department' s cash book and the Department's fund in the bank.

The source continued that after calculation, it was found that funds amounting to the tune of Rs 29.67 crore were missing for the particular Department.

The source informed that as per the receipt and payment record of the Department till August, the balance should be Rs 43, 81,49,454 and added that however, the Department's balance at the SBI Secretariat branch was found to be just 14,13,88,311 .

Alleging that such discrepancies in the amount have been present for a long time since the past, the source claimed that a similar disappearance of fund also occurred way back in 2014 during the time of a particular DDO of the Department.

The source informed that the current disappearance of around Rs 29.67 crore occurred at the time of the said DDO who has since been promoted.

After the matter reached the highest level of the Government, the said officer was removed from the post of the DDO and another was appointed as the new DDO via an order by the Additional Chief Secretary TA&Hills Letkhogin Haokip on August 29.The new DDO assumed office on August 31, the source narrated.

However, the source failed to mention any report concerning attempts by the State Government to reclaim the large amount of missing funds even though the source informed that the State Government might take up some legal action against the erring officer.

The source further narrated that on September 7, the Director of the Department had issued a show cause notice on the officer demanding him to submit a detailed report regarding the inconsistent funds of the Department before September 11 .

On the other hand, another source mentioned that the officer has not submitted any reply to the show cause notice till date.

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