New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) The Imphal Sub-Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached three immovable properties valued at a total of Rs 71 lakh in a money laundering case linked to Manipur University.
An ED official stated that the attached properties include one residential property valued at Rs 23.95 lakh, held by Mrs. Konsam (O) Sheityabati Devi, the then Finance Officer in-charge of Manipur University.
The other two are agricultural lands valued at Rs 48 lakh, held by Lourembam Rameshwar Meitei, a contractor and proprietor of Lourembam Enterprises. All properties are situated in Imphal.
The ED initiated its investigation based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the CBI in Imphal.
The FIR alleged that Manipur University officials—K. Basanta Singh, K. Jiban Kumar, N. Tejendro Singh, and HNK Sarma (the Vice-Chancellor)—conspired with contractor Lourembam Rameshwar Meitei to defraud the university.
By abusing their official positions, the officials allegedly showed undue favour to Meitei in awarding a tender for supplying furniture to the university’s International Guest House.
They falsely certified the receipt of all furniture items and released the entire payment to Lourembam Enterprises.
Subsequently, they attempted to cover up the scam by claiming the furniture was destroyed in a fire at the university’s Recreation Hall, thereby causing a substantial wrongful loss to the university and a corresponding wrongful gain to themselves.
The ED’s investigation revealed that the university officials awarded the tenders to M/s Lourembam Enterprises without following due procedure and in gross violation of the General Financial Rules.
It was further established that the contractor, L. Rameshwar Meitei, did not supply furniture worth Rs 64,36,502 as per the order but illegally raised bills for this amount, along with an installation charge of Rs 9,65,476.
Thus, a total of Rs 74,01,978 was illegally paid to him by the university officials.
Consequently, this amount of Rs 74,01,978 was misappropriated by L. Rameshwar Meitei in connivance with the officials, constituting proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Further investigation is underway.
