Graft Case Against Former Mizoram CM

Aizawl, Sep 17 : Cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 were today filed against former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga for allegedly possessing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income but the leader termed it as an attempt to malign his image.

A number of bank passbooks, land settlement certificates and periodical pattas for agricultural land were seized during a search of his residence, state Anti-Corruption Bureau officials said.
The raid was made following allegations against him by the Aizawl-based anti-corruption watchdog PRISM, they said.

Cases under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 were registered against the two-term former chief minister for allegedly possessing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

According to the FIR filed by PRISM, the Mizo National Front (MNF) chief allegedly received fencing material valued around Rs six lakh for his horticulture farm at 'Aiipuk Zau' near here from the agriculture department fraudulently when he was the chief minister.

He was also alleged to have collected three per cent of every government contract from contractors for his MNF party fund, the officials said.

SP of ACB Lalhuliana Fanai, when contacted by PTI, was tight-lipped about the search.
Zoramthanga said the search by the ACB was an attempt to malign him and was a politically motivated move by the Congress government led by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on the eve of the Aizawl Municipal Council polls.

"The PRISM submitted the FIR when I was in power and the vigilance department and the ACB then did not find any prima facie case," he said.

The case was revived recently by the Congress government with 'intention of revenge', he alleged.