‘Ghost’ contractor arrested, remanded

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 9: Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) ex-Councillor Gangmei Gaidon Rongmei (41) of Thangmeiband Tarung has been arrested on the charge of obtaining work orders for contract works by producing forged documents.  
Gangmei Gaidon Rongmei s/o (L) Khamsingam Rongmei of Tarung Thangmeiband was produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West today by a team of City police station along with a prayer for 6 days police remand.
Through an APP, the IO of the case submitted that the accused was arrested today morning based on a complaint lodged by K Romeo, Engineering Officer of IMC.
In this regard, MPHC furnished a letter to the IMC denying having any registered contractor in the name of GG Rongmei. The same letter said that one G Gaidon Rongmei of Tarung, Thangmeiband is registered.
According to the complaint, the accused Ex-Councillor allegedly obtained work orders by producing forged documents in the name of one GG Rongmei instead of disclosing the real registered name/entity by using letter heads in the name and style of one GG Rongmei, Special Class Contractor, Manipur Police Housing Corporation Limited (MPHC).
Further, the Central Bank of India (CBI), Checkon Bazar Branch furnished the KYC documents of GG Rongmei savings account on June 8  and the KYC documents reveal that the person named GG Rongmei is none other than accused G Gaidon Rongmei s/o late Khamsingam Gangmei of Tarung Thangmeiband, Imphal West, Lamphel. The APP further submitted that no Councillor of local bodies shall directly/indirectly involve in contract works of the local body  of which he/she is a Member (Section 59 of Manipur Municipalities Act 1994). Hence, the case was registered for investigation.
During the course of investigation, the accused person was arrested by a team of City PS from Naoremthong Shamusang Lairembi Leirak  this morning.
On preliminary interrogation, the accused person has reportedly admitted to have committed the charge levelled against him. The accused has been working as a special contractor from 2019 onwards till date and it also covers some period during his tenure as Corporator.
So, thorough interrogation of the accused in police custody is highly required to extract the real facts and veracity of the crimes he committed, the APP said and prayed for police remand.
The Court, on perusal of the case record and after hearing the submission of the IO, remanded the accused to police custody for six days till June 14.