IMPHAL, September 22: In one of the biggest case of misappropriation of funds detected in the state, a total of Rs 25,65,378 has been allegedly misappropriated from the government’s exchequer.
Highly placed official sources disclosed that the misappropriation was the fall out of wrongful withdrawal of General Provident Fund (GPF) by 45 employees belonging to different departments of the state. In this particular case, the 45 employees were found withdrawing GPF beyond their credit amount. As per norms, an employee can withdraw 90 percent of their credited amount.
But the employees had withdrawn amounts beyond that approved by the guidelines laid down under the 11(9) of GPF Rules 1960, creating an additional amount of Rs 25,65,378.
The same sources also informed that the fund misappropriation was detected on May 10, 2013. Owing to the detection, the Accountant General (A&E) Manipur, Imphal, on May 15, 2013 sent an office letter (DO No. PF-1MB/2013-14/247) to the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), RR Rashmi asking to give instructions to all the Secretaries/Commissioners to take appropriate action against the defaulting officials/DDOs and TOs for violation of the rule and to recover the balance with interest of two and half percent over and above the normal rate from the subscribers concerned under 119(7) of GPF Rules 1960.
The AG also implicated the involvment of DDOs/TOs, as such transaction or withdrawal of funds rest on their shoulders.
In another official letter, the Accountant General also asked the Additional Secretary to furnish the official sanction orders at the earliest.
With the concerned departments failing to respond, the Accountant General reportedly sent another reminder to the department concerned on the second week of this month.
Sources further informed that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is also holding the Finance portfolio, is likely to take serious action against the defaulters after returning from his foreign tour.