Imphal, Aug. 22: Laishram Ningthemjao got only one promotion in his entire career, and that came 13 years after his death.

The Manipur electricity department’s belated show of benevolence did not end there. Laishram was allowed to continue “in service” for another three years before he “retired” gracefully in 2001, just as all honourable people in government service do when they reach the age of superannuation.

The catch in this incredible story is that someone other than Laishram’s family was enjoying the fruits of his extended, post-death career for 16 years.

The chronological aberrations in Laishram’s service record came to light recently when his son, L. Bobo, sought all documents pertaining to his father’s stint as an assistant lineman and the financial benefits he and his family were entitled to.

The papers that Bobo, now 27, received from the State Information Commission under the Right to Information Act unravelled more than the mystery behind the missing emoluments. According to the documents provided by the information commissioner, Laishram was a lineman in Lamphel subdivision of Imphal West till his retirement on August 7, 2001.

The documents also mentioned that Laishram, who joined the electricity department as a temporary assistant lineman in 1971 and became a regular employee in 1984, was promoted to the rank of lineman in 1998. The only detail missing from the records was that he died in 1985.

Armed with proof of the discrepancies, Bobo intends to file a criminal case against the electricity department and seek monetary compensation.

Representatives of the employees’ union visited Laish-ram’s family twice after his death and handed Rs 45,000 in instalments. That was the only money Bobo recalls receiving as his father’s entitlement.

“When I tried to get my father’s service book, the department could not give me anything. Officials said the service book was lost during a flood,” he said.

The family’s lawyer, Meihoubam Rakesh, said someone was drawing a salary in Laishram’s name. “Probably the same person was also getting pension all these years. This is a clear case of fraud and we will file a criminal case in the Imphal bench of Gauhati High Court.”