Ex gratia scam case handed to CBI

IMPHAL, April 22: The infamous ex gratia scandal case in which some state officials including doctors and policemen have been accused of forging signatures to swindle a huge amount of ex gratia payments meant for the next of kin of those killed in separate incidents has been handed over to the CBI. However, sources said that the CBI has not yet taken up the investigation of the case formally. So far no official of the premier investigating agency of the country has come to Manipur to enquire about the case nor has the state government sent any reminder to them, it added. The case was being looked into by a special investigation team of police headed by DIG, LM Khoute, IPS. But after the decision of' the state government to hand over the ex gratia scandal case to the CBI in January last, the special investigation had been halted midway and the fate of the case now remains suspended. Meanwhile, in an interview to the Yakairol, LM Khoute informed that the number of cases being taken up in connection with the ex gratia scandal is 60 in all. Soon after he received the order of the state government announcing that the case would be handed over to the CBI, he had stopped all works of inquiry conducted under his guidance. He has gathered all the relevant documents in connection with the case, and was waiting to hand over them to the CBI, he said, adding that he had also examined all the people accused in the scandal, including the then SP, Thoubal S Manglemjao, MPS, one of the main accused who has been suspended-from service. Speaking of the difficulties, the special investigation team had encountered, Khoute mentioned that the team had not taken the statement of IBC, Imphal, which is also important in the case, as there was certain protocol to be followed. But since the case had been referred to the CBI, and it being an independent body, CBI can summon the DC for his statement without any hindrance, he said. (Matamgi Yakairol; E-Pao; www.e-pao.net; Imphal, April 23, 2001)