Our Correspondent
Imphal, Sep. 9 (EMN): Former Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi Singh has said that he would accept ‘any kind of punishment’ if found guilty on charges of financial ‘misuse, mismanagement, and misappropriation.’
On Saturday, he told newsmen in Imphal though the case registered against him was ‘unfortunate’; he was ready to face any punishment since ‘any financial matter related documents cannot be concealed as it is in public domain.’
The former chief minister has, however, already obtained anticipatory bail through his lawyer from the court. Manipur police has lodged FIR against Singh and five others after the joint secretary in the Planning department had asked the police to conduct “a detailed investigation and to book the persons/officials responsible for mismanagement, misappropriation and misuse of funds”, on the basis of an enquiry by the Vigilance department.
On Friday, Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh said that the case of alleged financial irregularities of Rs 185.79 crore in the functioning of a government agency would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Biren said this during a brief interaction with the media on the sidelines of a climate change convention in Imphal on Friday. A state cabinet decision has also been taken in this regard, it was informed.
The FIR has named Singh and five officers, including three former chief secretaries of Manipur, in connection with alleged financial irregularities in Manipur Development Society. Ibobi of the Congress was the chief minister of Manipur from 2002 to March 2017.
The FIR was lodged on September 1 last, at Imphal police station against Ibobi, and former chief secretaries: Y Ningthem Singh, PC Lawmkunga and O Nabakishore Singh. Also named in the FIR were former project director of MDS, DS Poonia, and its administrative officer Ranjit Singh, sources said. Manipur police have already conducted a search at the residence of Y Ningthem Singh in Imphal recently.
