ED Cracks Down on Manipur 'State Council' Leaders Over Alleged War Funding

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In a major crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on at least five premises in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, linked to Yambem Biren, the self-styled chief minister of the Manipur State Council, and Narengbam Samarjit, its external affairs and defence minister. The searches are part of a money laundering investigation into the duo's alleged collection of over ₹50 crore from the public through an investment scheme, which was then used to fund activities against the Indian government. The ED officials stated that the accused individuals are key members of the Salai Group of companies, which was involved in a scheme to collect cash from the public by promising high interest rates. The agency found that the group, along with its entities, had collected ₹57.36 crore from gullible investors and deposited the funds into the personal bank accounts of the Salai Group of Companies, Smart Society, and their directors. This investigation is linked to a 2019 press conference held in London, where Biren and Samarjit declared Manipur's independence from India, an act that the ED deemed prejudicial and amounting to waging war against the state, sedition, and promoting disharmony. The duo has been previously booked by the National Investigation Agency and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The ED believes that the funds collected through the investment scheme were used to promote activities against the Indian government, including establishing a 'Kadangband Swajaldhara Implementation Committee' in 2003, which was later renamed Smart Society in 2008. The agency alleges that the accused individuals and their entities have committed serious crimes, including money laundering, sedition, and promoting hatred among different groups.