Grow Manipur founder remanded

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 2 : Additional Session Judge of Fast Track Court Manipur today remanded Grow Manipur founder Pukhram Maikel Singh along with his wife, sister and brother-in-law to judicial custody till June 16.
Pukhram Maikel (30) s/o Jiten, Pukhram Babita (28) w/o Maikel, Pukhram Renuka 28 d/o Jiten, of Moirang Pukhram Leikai and Khundrakpam Bikash (23) s/o Basanta of Kwakeithel Mayaikoibi were produced before the Court after the completion of their seven days police custody remand.
Four other accused in the case Pukhram Jiten (61), Pukhram Rebati (61) w/o Jiten of Moirang Pukhram Leikai, Khundrakpam Jenny (22) w/o Bikash of Kwakeithel Makha Thokchom Leikai and Keisham Ulen (24) s/o Akendra of Thagmeiband Sinam Leikai are also in judicial custody since May 27.
All the accused were arrested by a team of Bishnupur police for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme through microfinance group “Grow Manipur Team.”
The defence counsels of the accused filed a remand objection along with a prayer for release on bail.
The IO of the case through APP submitted that the complaint against the accused was lodged by one Soubam Sophina and her husband of Singjamei Leisangthem Leikai, stating that she and her husband were approached by Maikel and his wife to invest in Grow Manipur Team with a promise of 7 percent interest on the invested capital and also guaranteed that the invested capital can be withdrawal any time after 3 months of investment. The complainant said that she invested Rs 29 lakh in the Grow Manipur Team.
In the complaint, it is mentioned that the complainant stopped receiving the 7 pc interest from October last year and the office of the Grow Manipur Team at Moirang Pukhram Leikai was also shut down.
During the enquiry, it was learnt that the accused Maikel and his family and associate were planning to escape to Russia for which they contacted a travel agency located at Thoubal and the copy of the flight tickets containing details of passengers were seized from the owner of the travel agency.
Items including computer sets, passport of 13 accused,  GMT seals, deed agreements, land records cash counting machine, bank documents, debit cards, Rs 7,66,730 in cash, jewellery worth Rs 1 lakh and luxury cars and a Harley Davidson bike were seized from the accused.
During the hearing, the complainant was asked to appear before the Court to examine her statement.
After the hearing of the APP, defence counsel and complainant and on perusal of the case and other material placed before the Court remanded the accused to judicial custody.