Imphal: The Directorate of Information and Public Relations in Manipur is facing intense public scrutiny after Right to Information documents revealed significant price discrepancies in the purchase of photographic equipment. RTI applicant Khumanthem Dhanachandra uncovered records showing the department spent Rs 14,00,000 on four Canon EOS R7 cameras, paying Rs 3,50,000 per unit.
These figures stand in stark contrast to official pricing from Canon India, where the camera body is listed at Rs 1,38,995 and the model bundled with a lens costs Rs 1,75,995. The procurement records indicate the government paid roughly double the market value for these units.
The investigation into the February 2026 invoice also highlights suspicious costs for accessories, including a spare battery priced at Rs 32,000 and a 512GB memory card for Rs 25,000. These items, along with others, brought the total expenditure to nearly Rs 15 lakh. Delivery of the equipment was finalized in March 2026.
Critics are now demanding an independent inquiry into the department's financial practices. The controversy has raised questions about whether officials conducted proper market surveys or technical evaluations before approving the inflated expenses. Transparency advocates suggest that if the investigation confirms rule violations or financial manipulation, the officials involved could face legal consequences.
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