Ibobi shrugs off graft charges as baseless

Ex-CM vows to fight for justice, extends cooperation to probe for truth

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Sept 9

Denying charges of graft former chief minister O. Ibobi Singh today said the allegations against him of financial misconduct are “baseless,” pledging to fight for clearing his name out of the scam.

Making his first reaction after the Imphal police station registered an FIR under sections of IPC and Personal Liabilities Act relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy and breach of trust on September 1 the former chief minister told a press conference at his quarter at Babupara that “registring an FIR against me without any concrete evidence of my involvement in the MDS case is unfortunate.”

Ibobi, who left Imphal on August 30 on a private tour returned here yesterday. He got interim anticipatory bail on September 6.

“I will extend my fullest cooperation to any investigation by a neutral agency be it CBI, NIA, enforcement directorate of any other agency. I want the truth found out fast. If I am found guilty by the court I will accept the verdict and I am prepared to serve jail term,” he said.

Claiming that he did not do anything wrong and sign any cheque while he was the chairman of MDS for short period of time Ibobi said “truth cannot be concealed for long. It will come out as the fire could not be covered up by a cloth.”

He said the inquiry by the State Vigilance Commission, on the basis of which the police registered the FIR, was initiated by him while he was the chief minister after consulting the then chief secretary. Because of the Assembly election his government could not take further action, he claimed.

“I am not involved in any irregularity in the MDS. I did not sign any cheque. They can confirm it from the banks where the agency has its accounts. As the matter is in the court I don’t want to comment much though I want to say many things. Before registering the FIR they could have first find out any evidence against me,” Ibobi said.

When asked if the charges levelled against him are politically motivated, the former chief minister reiterated that making charges of criminal conduct without any proof is unfair and people can have their own judgements whether it is politically motivated or not.

Responding to another question on why he applied for bail if he is innocent Ibobi replied that since a case has been registered against him he does not want his name tarnished when police arrest him.

“But I will fight against the charges. I will be the happiest person when the truth is dug out,” he said.

Ibobi said so far police have neither approached him for recording his statement and nor send any paper to him till today.