Ex-CM RK Ranbir chargesheeted in rice scam

Imphal, January 10: In a significant development the Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI has submitted charge sheet against former Chief Minister RK Ranbir and seven others including former PCS Secretary and FCS Director in connection with the 1991-1992 rice scandal involving over Rs 2 crore that rocked the State. Mention may be made here that the Special Court (PC Act) had on Jan 5 this year rejected anticipatory bail application filed by RK Ranbir. In its verdict, the court ruled that there was no basis for granting the pre-arrest bail and instead advised RK Ranbir to surrender to the Court concerned and seek bail as soon as the chargesheet is filed with the court. Besides Ranbir, the other 7 chargesheeted persons including RK Madhusana, then Secretary Food and Civil Supplies Department, Lientinal Gangte, then Director PCS, Seikh Abdul Halim Asst Director FCS, Th Bhuneshor Singh Technical Officer PCS, Lourembam Nabachandra Singh Proprietor M/S Shilpa enterprises, a highly placed source said. The CBI had already chargesheeted some other persons involved in the scandal. The Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) M Binoykumar in his ruling made on Jan 3 this year stated that cognizance has been taken up against the accused persons, it added. The Court also ordered the prosecution to take necessary steps. The CBI submitted the charge sheet in two different RC Numbers before the PC Act Court. In its chargesheet the CBI official stated that the two instant cases are among the eleven cases of Lamphel Police Station relating to the FCS Dept taken over by the CBI on the request of the State Govt through the Joint Secretary, Home Vide Letter no 4/2/43/8 8-H dated April 22, 1995 addressed to the Director CBI. Pursuant to the report the Lamphel PS, FIR no 452 (11) 92 was re-registered on June 5, 1996 u/s 120 B r/w section 407 IPC and Section 13 (2) r/w 13(1) (c) and (d) of PC Act, 1998 at CBI, SPE, Silchar Branch against the accused persons. It all stated that additional list of witnesses and documents will be submitted if required to meet the end of justice. Among other various things, the CBI alleged that the then Chief Minister RK Ranbir who also held charge of FCS and other officials of the same Dept involved in the instant case conspired among themselves and other in order to show undue favor legally to some of the transport contractors whose names are listed in the chargesheet.