Serious allegations have been raised against the Chief Engineer of the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Ltd. (MTDCL), including misuse of power, illegal postings, and fraudulent bank dealings.
TFM Special Investigative Report
A cloud of scandal seems to be engulfing the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Ltd. (MTDCL) after an alleged report issued by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption revealed pending vigilance cases against its current Chief Engineer. A subsequent memorandum submitted by a whistle-blower has now brought explosive allegations of financial irregularities, illegal appointments, and systemic abuse of power within the state-run corporation.
Vigilance Confirms Pending Inquiry
According to official correspondence dated 2nd November 2023 (No. 9534-VIGIL/2023), the State Vigilance Commission confirmed that a necessary inquiry was conducted into the conduct of the person also serves as Chief Engineer in-charge. The vigilance department, as per sources, is reported to have explicitly stated that “vigilance case(s) is/are pending against the concerned officer/employee.” The matter, registered under Case number: 2/PE/SP-V&AC/2023, pertains to the Chief Engineer’s promotion clearance.
While the official intimation clarified that the case is confined to internal inquiries by the Vigilance Department, it also advised that additional consultations be held with the Finance Department and Commissioner Departmental Enquiry (CDE) to examine any High Power Committee proceedings or CBI-related matters, said a reliable source who does not want to be identified.
Importantly, the official correspondence concluded with a crucial disclaimer: “This is not to be used as an Integrity Certificate”, said the same source.
Citizen’s Communique Blows the Lid Off
In a parallel development, a detailed complaint submitted by an Imphal resident on May 28, 2025 has laid bare a series of alleged misconducts by high ranking officials of the Government of Manipur. The complaint submitted to the Chief Secretary of Manipur and other outlines grave concerns related to the misuse of public office, unauthorized financial activities, and violations of regulatory provisions.
The complainant who had worked on sub-contractual assignments with MTDCL, claimed he experienced a “bad working atmosphere” and observed disturbing internal practices that prompted him to alert authorities.
The complainant’s allegations against the Chief Engineer include: 1. Use of two different official letterheads — one for the Lamphelpat office and another for regional and branch offices — allegedly to bypass scrutiny and regulatory oversight; 2. Establishing over a dozen unauthorized regional and branch offices across Manipur and other states without government sanction; 3. Appointing around 52 engineers without any official approval and placing them across unauthorized offices; 4. Opening separate bank accounts in various banks, including IDBI and Punjab National Bank, bypassing financial rules. A cited letter from a private contractor dated 19-02-2025 refers to a suspicious deposit of Rs 1.5 lakh, indicating irregular money movement; 5. Allegedly preparing and submitting false reports and financial statements to justify operations and win tenders; 6. And breaching provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, in both procedural and financial management.
The Chief Engineer of MTDCL is also accused of manipulating certain documents to meet eligibility requirements for government tenders, including for a major agreement with Indira Gandhi National Tribal University signed on 13th February 2024.
Call for Immediate Suspension
The complainant has appealed for immediate Departmental Enquiry and the suspension of the Chief Engineer to prevent tampering or interference with any ongoing investigations. The document emphasizes that such actions are necessary to uphold transparency and restore public trust in a corporation meant to uplift Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and backward communities of Manipur.
It may be mentioned that the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Ltd., headquartered at Lamphelpat, was established to promote and execute welfare programs for tribal and backward populations in the state. However, the whistle-blower’s revelation and the details of the complainant alleged that the institution has turned into a “private fiefdom” under an unscrupulous person’s control, operating regional offices in violation of government mandates and therefore allegedly siphoning off public funds for personal benefit.
The text of the complaint accessed by TFM claims that there were enough evidence supported by documents that allegedly showed irregular postings, branch expansions, and financial transactions.
Till the filing of this investigative report, there has been no official suspension order issued. However, the ongoing reported inquiry by the vigilance department combined with public whistle-blowing has raised serious questions about governance and accountability within one of Manipur’s key tribal welfare agencies. Government officials are expected to respond in the coming days, especially as calls may lead to a strident demand for a CBI probe or judicial inquiry into the scale and depth of the alleged scam.