Blow to BJP candidate in Nungba AC HC stays Integrity Certificate issued by Vigilance Dept

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 8 : The High Court of Manipur has stayed the Integrity Certificate issued by the State Vigilance Department on December 13, 2021 on behalf of Dinganglaung Gangmei alias Dipu Gangmei, an IAS officer.
The order was passed today by a single bench of Justice L Jamir of the Manipur High Court and an interim order  has also been issued to not further proceed with the resignation process until further orders.
D Gangmei took voluntary retirement from service on January 11 this year.
On February 2 this year, the Hindu had quoted the Lok Ayukta as saying, “‘prima facie evidence is established of criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of sanctioned amount’ under the 14th Finance Commission for 2017-18” and asked the State Government to register a case against 22 people including ex-IAS officer and BJP candidate Dinganglung Gangmei for involvement in the misappropriation of Rs 18 crore meant for beneficiary schemes in a tribal council.  Interestingly Dipu Gangmei has been named as the BJP candidate at Nungba Assembly Constituency in Tamenglong district.
The Hindu on February 2 reported, “The officials were accordingly charged under Section 5 of the Manipur Public Servants' Personal Liability Act, 2006.
“The Lokayukta noted the Tamenglong ADC showed undue favour to an implementing agency despite many defaults or errors in the process of awarding the developmental works ‘“in furtherance of their criminal conspiracy”’. The projects included development of inter-village roads, construction of water tanks, public toilets, waiting sheds, drainages and improvement of playgrounds.
“Taking up the case again, the Lokayukta said a non-local IPS officer should investigate the misappropriation of funds by exercising all the powers conferred under the Manipur Lokayukta Act, 2014. Using its special powers, the Lokayukta directed Ravi Choudhari, the SP of Kamjong district to investigate the case.
“Asking the State’s Chief Secretary and the DGP to ensure that the assigned investigating officer should not be disturbed without its consent, the Lokayukta said the case should be registered at the crime branch police station in Imphal.”