Mizo official gets bail in graft case

Aizawl: A first class magistrate court has granted an interim bail to Mizoram Animal and Husbandry and Veterinary Director C Sangnghina after he was arrested in a graft case earlier in the day. Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Additional Superintendent of Police L B Chhetri here on Sunday said the court granted Mr Sangnghina the bail on Saturday. A team of ACB raided the residence of the director at Durtlang, his private dairy farm at Neihbawi and hatchery farm at Sihhmui in connection with an alleged misappropriation of funds in the department.

Incriminating documents were recovered during the raid.

”The raid was conducted on the basis of search warrant issued by a competent authority,” Mr Shhetri said.

Since the special court was not in session on Saturday, the first class Magistrate granted him the bail even though a judicial custody had been sought.

Based on the Comptroller & Auditor General of India report, 2004, “Prism” had filed an FIR with the ACB alleging irregularities and misutilisation of funds in the department on February 17, 2009.

Quoting CAG report, Prism stated in its FIR that the department received Rs 45 lakh each from the Centre for regional broiler chick farm at Tanhril and poultry farm at Selesih during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001.

Despite that the department had submitted an utilisation certificate claiming that the entire fund had been utilised, the CAG found that only Rs 75 lakh had been utilised from the Rs 90 lakh leaving Rs 16 lakh missing.

The department also illegally deposited Rs 50.31 lakh out of Rs 90 lakh received from the Centre for poultry development scheme during the same period to the bank.

It further alleged that Rs 11.75 lakh from this fund had been diverted.The FIR also pointed out other irregularities and doubtful expenditure of funds in the department during this period. (UNI)