Two of the four accused persons in alleged misappropriation of a huge subsidy amount under the Manipur Start Up Scheme were released on bail by the Special Judge (PC), Imphal West on Friday on their furnishing a bond of Rs 1 lakh each.
The court had remanded the four accused persons, namely Ningombam Maipaksana, 25, son of N Joychand of Bashikhong Kitnapan Imphal East; Seram Olish, 25, son of S Maipak of Kongba Makha Nandeibam Leikai; Mayengbam Ibohanbi, 41, son of M Nimai of Ngairangbam Makha Maning Leikai, Imphal West and Nongthombam Rocky, 32, son of N Gambhir of Kongba Uchekon Laikon, Imphal East into judicial custody till June 4.
Meanwhile, the four accused filed an application to release them on bail. Among the four, N Maipaksana and N Rocky were released on bail while the bail plea of the remaining two was rejected.
The court observed that at the stage of police investigation, the accused Ibohanbi and the bank manager Singshit seem to be the main accused persons in the case. Olish is also involved in the conspiracy as the transactions are done through his account, the court stated.
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It observed that the allegation against the Maipaksana is for retaining a high cut of the service charge, but materials are lacking for involvement in conspiracy. Rocky is alleged to have introduced Ibohanbi to the bank manager and initiated payments as approved by the manager, but there is no allegation of his participating in the conspiracy and taking shares of the subsidies from the beneficiaries, the court stated.
As they were released, the court put up conditions that they should not leave Manipur without permission of the court; they should cooperate with the investigation; and they should not influence any person acquainted with facts of the case; they should not temper the evidence and should not commit a similar offence.
They were arrested on May 18, on the allegation that they had deceived the beneficiaries for loans under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) on the pretext of helping them and they themselves pocketed huge amounts of money in a wrongful manner.
The complaint was lodged by Punjab National Bank, Kanglatongbi manager, stating that a possible fraud in the Start Up Manipur government scheme has been committed by some officials of the PNB manager Sh Singsit Khupden in collusion and conspiracy with other persons.
