House Committee to probe embezzlement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2020: The Manipur Legislative Assembly has agreed to constitute a House Committee to investigate the misappropriation of over Rs 29 crore from Tribal Affairs and Hills Department.

The members of the Committee include Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar as the Chairman while the members are V Hang-khanlian, Th Radheshyam, Letpao Haokip, K Ranjit, Dr Chaltonlien Amo, Kh Joykisan, Dr S Ranjan and Alfred Kanngam Arthur.

While discussing six demands for grants for the fiscal 2020-21, MLA K Ranjit raised the issue of misappropriating Rs 29.69 crore from TA&H Department.

House Committee to probe embezzlement

Replying to K Ranjit, TA&H Minister N Kayisii said that the misappropriation took place during the tenures of five DDOs, three of whom had retired.

Kayisii then suggested that a committee of seven MLAs headed by Y Surchandra be constituted to probe into the matter.

But K Ranjit insisted on investigation by a House Committee with an offer that he would withdraw his policy cut motion if the Speaker agrees to constitution of such a House Committee.

Joining the discussion, leader of the House N Biren said that the amount of Rs 29.69 crore was withdrawn during the periods of five DDOs from 2001-02 to 2019.Biren said that a committee of MLAs may probe the matter as suggested by N Kayisii and the same may be endorsed by the House.

There is also no harm in constituting a House Committee to probe the matter, Biren added.

However, K Ranjit expressed strong resentment against the State Government for apparently condoning an officer involved in the misappropriation rather than initiating any action against the officer.

The Tribal Affairs and Hills Department has Rs 44.13 crore in its cash-book and the department has another Rs 14.11 crore in its SBI Secretariat Branch account.

The difference in the two amounts is Rs 29.69 crore and this amount was missing, Ranjit said.

The matter came to light when the department's Director sent a show cause notice to Deputy Director of the same department on September 7, 2019, he continued.

The show cause notice asked the Deputy Director to submit a report on the huge difference between the department's fund available in the cash-book and the amount available in the bank account within September 10 .

It is now an open secret that the huge amount had been misappropriated by the particular Deputy Director, Ranjit said.

He went on to ask if the Government has initiated action against the officer, whether he has been suspended or Vigilance Department has been asked to probe the matter or the misappropriated amount has been recovered.

Questioning the silence of Vigilance Department regarding the matter, the Opposition MLA accused the Government of promoting corruption and swindling public money.

While the Government has been busy with its Go to Hills campaign, a huge amount has been misappropriated from the department which is there to look after the needs and grievances of the hill people, Ranjit said.

Later, Speaker Y Khemchand announced that a House Committee comprising of nine members have been constituted and the committee would table its report in the 11th session of the State Assembly.

The Speaker's announcement was affirmed by the House.

At the end of the day, the State Assembly passed six demands for grants for the fiscal year 2020-21 amounting to a total of Rs 2,170,73,66,000 .

The demands are Rs 81,71,91,000 for Labour and Employment Department, Rs.911,72,74,000 for Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills Development, Rs 769,45,04,000 for Environment and Forest, Rs.361,01,38,000 for Power, Rs 34,40,63,000 for Art and Culture and Rs 12,41,96,000 for Information Technology.