Imphal, May 07: Notwithstanding the statement of the Chief Minister who is also holding the Finance portfolio that enquiry is in progress into the attempt to withdraw Rs 1.06 crores meant for Education Department from a bank at Jiribam using forged documents, Opposition MLA O Joy urged to table action taken report on the floor of the House.

MLAs Joy and I Ibohalbi raised a call attention motion in the Assembly session today to draw attention of the Education Minister on the issue.

Joy asserted that the Education Department was saved only because the bank had not enough cash at that moment.

Of the total amount, Rs 30 lakhs was sanctioned for repairing school buildings and the remaining Rs 76 lakhs for construction of quarters.

Even as the huge amount was saved from falling into the hands of the frauds, it would not be proper to take the matter lightly, noted Joy while asking as to how the Treasury passed the bill on forged documents.

He also cast strong suspicion whether there were serious lapses in the financial management of the State.

Concurring with the views of Joy, MLA I Ibohalbi asserted that the Govt is unable to maintain financial secrecy.

Taking serious note of the forged documents embossed with watermark, he maintained that the matter should not be dismissed lightly.

Responding to the motion, Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also in charge of Education said that even as no money was lost, an enquiry is being conducted to identify all the individuals involved in the case.

If any State official is found involved in the fraud attempt, due legal actions will be initiated against them, Ibobi assured.

The forgery was discovered after 7/8 bills prepared by the Treasury for withdrawal of the amount were referred to the Finance Department for verification by the bank.

On inspection, it was discovered that most of the signatures in the documents were forged.

Following the incident, the State Govt has instructed officials concerned to check whether there are such cases of forgery and fraudulence in other ZEOs, informed the Chief Minister.

In connection with the case, police have registered a case after ZEO Jiribam Th Ketuki filed a complaint at Jiribam police station, he conveyed.

Unsatisfied with the response of the Chief Minister, O Joy asserted that the Government seemed to be not serious enough and care little about the case.

Noting that it would not be politically and morally correct to support elements bent on looting huge amount of public money, he appealed to table a action taken report in the House.

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