Mizoram CM names and shames 25 gazetted officers with corruption cases

Lal Thanhawla replied 25 gazetted officers face such cases, and proceeded to read out the list.

Among those on it are suspended PWD Chief Engineer (Highways) Vanlalduhsaka, who is charged with awarding 13.75 percent extra to contractors SLT Infracon and who was also investigated for lapses that allegedly led to a massive landslide in Aizawl that killed 17 people last year.

Three of Vanlalduhsaka’s PWD colleagues are also being investigated by the vigilance department — among them Assistant Engineer Lalramzauva for allegedly taking money from contractors in connection with the building of a polytechnic at eastern Champhai town, and Executive Engineer R Zatawna for allegedly mis-appropriating Rs 6.75 lakhs of government money.

Another senior officer under investigation is AIG-III Thomas Zodingliana, a Mizoram Police Service (MPS) service cadre, for “deployment of police personnel for his private works.”

Former Agriculture Director H Lalthanpuia is also under investigation for drawing “fraudulent bills amounting to Rs 14.34 lakhs”, while Deputy Director of Horticulture H Lalchhuanvawra and another officer of the same department, Lalrinawmi Renthlei, are being probed for mis-appropriating funds meant for grape cultivation at Hnahlan, the main hub of Mizoram’s indigenous wine industry.

Other officials under investigation include a headmaster of a government-owned Higher Secondary School, a Medical Officer, a handful of Block Development Officers, and a host of other officials with various other departments.

After Lal Thanhawla read out the names Lalrinawma, the opposition MLA who asked the question, commented, “Thank you. I got a reply much more detailed than I expected.”