Graft charge framed against Retd official

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 6 : The Session Court of Imphal West on Thursday framed charges against Konjengbam Ibothem, a 61-year-old retired Senior Accounts Officer of AG office, Manipur for trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act in a case involving alleged criminal misconduct by a Government servant.
Accused Konjengbam Ibothem (61), s/o K Iboton of Sagolband Meino Leirak and his counsel appeared before the Court for the pronouncement of the charge order in connection with the chargesheet filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Imphal Branch.
The CBI chargesheet alleged that Ibothem, former Senior Accounts Officer in the office of the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Manipur, possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the extent of Rs 3,54,47,233 during the period from August 1, 2005, to September 30, 2020.
Investigation revealed that Ibothem joined the AG Office, Manipur, as a Clerk on March 6, 1987, and rose through the ranks (Promoted to Accountant in 1989 and then to Accounts Officer in 2010 and to Senior Accounts Officer in 2015).
He retired in 2023.
ACB/CBI Imphal Branch recovered and seized incriminating documents/ articles viz Rs 54,45,930  in cash, 63 tola (mohor) and one san of gold jewelleries, 130 pension passbooks, 185 bank passbooks, 127 ATM cards, 124 cheque books, 10 sale deeds, two gift deeds, one mortgage deed, 18 Jamabandi documents etc from the accused residential and official premises on October 23, 2020.
The CBI team also recovered original documents pertaining to annual property returns/ intimation submitted for acquisition/ disposal of moveable/ immovable assets, details of salary showing gross, net, arrear and deduction and GPF statement covering August 1, 2005 to October 23, 2020 and details of housing advance record from his office.
During the charge hearing, Special Public Prosecutor for CBI, PAR Naga submitted that the chargesheet contained sufficient evidence to establish that the accused possessed disproportionate assets worth Rs 3,54,47,233 beyond his known sources of income.
 He urged the Court to frame charges against the accused under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
On the other hand, the defence counsel contended that no material existed to frame charges against the accused and urged his discharge.
It was submitted that the accused’s wife was engaged in a money-lending business, and her earnings were sufficient to explain the assets in question.
The defence counsel further submitted that only one agricultural land is registered in the accused’s name, while the remaining properties stand in his wife’s name who hails from a well-off family and possessed landed property even before attaining adulthood.
The defence counsel also said that the CBI failed to thoroughly investigate bank transactions and fund sources.
The Court after hearing the submission of Special PP, defence counsel and on perusal of the chargesheet observed that the material collected during investigation raise grave suspicion of criminal misconduct by the accused.
Hence, the Court framed charges against the accused and fixed December 2, 2025, for examination of the prosecution witnesses.