The state Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed the chargesheet in the first case against the Mizo National Front (MNF) supremo but failed to file an additional chargesheet in the second count within the stipulated time on Friday, sources said. As a result, he will be tried only on the first count.
“The court had earlier extended the period for the ACB to file the additional chargesheet. As the extended deadline ended without any action from the ACB, the court had decided to go ahead with the first charge,” the sources said.
Anti-corruption organisation Prism had filed an FIR against Zoramthanga when he was still the chief minister on June 22, 2007 with the ACB, for allegedly using farming materials worth Rs 37 lakh of the agriculture department at his private farm at Aii Puk near Aizawl.
After no action was taken, the civic organisation filed a PIL with the Gauhati High Court on July 14, 2009. The high court on December 21, 2009, ordered a probe into the allegations to be completed within four months.
According to Prism president Vanlalruata, the Mizoram government played “delay tactics” to carry out the high court’s order.
“We had pressurised the state chief vigilance officer for a number of times to initiate the investigation,” Vanlalruata said.
The inquiry report has revealed 30 rolls of wire mesh and 660 of angles iron post were issued by agriculture department in favour of Zoramthanga’s farm, on the request made by his wife Roneihsangi through 50 per cent subsidised payment. It also revealed that payments were made but backdated through manipulation of official documents.
The report also revealed Zoramthanga admitted that three per cent was deducted from PMGSY contractors for his party fund, he said.
The 68-year-old two-time chief minister was also accused of possessing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income, and for allegedly collecting three per cent from all contractors under PMGSY for party fund during his two consecutive terms from 1998 to 2008. It was alleged that Zoramthanga possessed Rs 54,18,061.94 and Rs 1,38,02,241.26 in 2003 and 2008 respectively in his affidavits declared on the eve of the 2003 and 2008 state assembly elections.
”The difference of his possession between 2003 and 2008 is Rs 83,84,179. But he could have had accumulated only Rs 17,84,234 during these five years from his known sources of income,” Prism had stated in the FIR. The ACB on September 16, 2010 raided Zoramthanga’s residence at Ramhlun here and seized a number of bank passbooks, land settlement certificates and periodical pattas for agricultural land. Maintaining his innocence, Zoramthanga has alleged that he was being framed to spoil his political career.
”If I had indulged in any corruption, let them nail me, for no one is above the law. But, they are making false charges against me to politically spoil my image,” he has said. “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 also said.