Warrants against Pradhan, members
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 04 2012:
Acting on a criminal complaint, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (Imphal West) has issued arrest warrants against eight persons including a Panchayat Pradhan, six ward members and a former Panchayat secretary.
Accused W Brajagopal Singh (44) , Pradhan of Sagolband Thounoujam Leikai Gram Panchayat, ward members Shantibala Devi, Th Manglembi Devi, K Memthoi Devi, P Aruna Devi, N Memi Devi and L Shamo Singh and exPanchayat secretary Kh Kiranbala Devi have been charged of swindling money under MGNREGS by preparing forged documents and other illegal activities.
In the order issued yesterday, Judge Ch Brajachand Singh said "on perusal of the material records, it appears that there is prima facie case to take criminal proceedings against all these accused" .
While taking cognizance for the offences under different section of the Indian Penal Code against all accused, the Court issued the warrants that made them returnable by September 11 .
Takhellambam Lata Devi, a resident of Mayaikoibi Ningthoujam Leikai and a home guard personnel in Manipur police department, is the complainant.
In her complaint, Devi (47) contended that the Pradhan and the elected ward members had manipulated a number of documents concerning the welfare schemes and development works of the Panchayat.
Some of the documents regarding the execution of MGNREGS work of the Gram Panchayat are also found containing forged signatures of the complainant and others.
The accused persons also manipulated the minutes and proceedings of the Gram Sabha sitting which was never convened at any point of time, she said.
The Pradhan and the six ward members , with a common intention, also cheated the general public by manipulating the documents containing the signatures of the complainant thereby converting an amount at the maximum of Rs 5,04,000 from two MGNREGS schemes to their own money, the complaint charged.
It said such acts of misusing public money amounts to commission of criminal breach of trust punishable under section 114, 167, 408, 468 and 420 IPC.
Such commission of offences is not possible unless the accused persons collusively prepared false documents like Gram Sabha meetings' proceedings, muster roll, measurement books, completion work reports and photographs etc with an ill-motive to misuse public account or making the funds meant for development work for their own, it contended.
.