The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth Rs 3.21 crore belonging to former project director of Manipur Development Society (MDS) under the anti-money laundering law in a case linked to embezzlement of government funds.
The attached properties include immovable properties worth Rs 3.04 crore and an amount of Rs 8,20,000 available in various bank accounts. The ED had earlier frozen 11 different bank accounts on November 25, 2021 related to the accused with a balance amount of Rs 41,53,489.
“Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties worth Rs 3.12 crore belonging to former project director Y Ningthem Singh and his associates in connection with an investigation into a money laundering case involving the Manipur Development Society’s massive fund embezzlement," said the ED in a statement.
It stated that the ED initiated investigation on the basis of the FIR on September 9, 2017 lodged by Imphal West Police under various sections of IPC,1860 and section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against officials of MDS and other individuals with an allegation of misappropriation of MDS funds to the tune of more than Rs 169 crore.
The ED further informed that it conducted an investigation revealing a huge amount of funds embezzled and misappropriated from the MDS account by Y Ningthem Singh, the then project director MDS in criminal connivance with his associates and these diverted funds were transferred and laundered into various shell firms accounts and other individual/associates accounts.
Subsequently, Y Ningthem Singh and his accomplices acquired several properties at different locations.
Ningthem was also named in the Rs 332 crore scandal along with former Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh and three former chief secretaries of Manipur. The case is being investigated by the CBI.
The former chief secretaries are PC Lawmkunga, DS Poonia and O Nabakishore Singh.
The MDS is an agency set up in 1982 under Planning Commission of India with the objective of generating employment in Manipur and promoting the State’s economy for all round development of the state’s potential in all spheres.
The chairman of the society, as per rules, is held by the chief secretary of the state. However, former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh held the post of chairman of MDS from 2013 to 2014.
