Graft case registered against former Mizo CM

AIZAWL, July 4 ? A criminal case under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered in the Aizawl Police Station here against former chief Minister Lal Thanhawla yesterday, police said here Wednesday, reports PTI. Police said the case was registered on the basis of an FIR submitted by Rev Zairema, a church and social worker on July one, saying that Lal Thanhawla allegedly misused his office and power by swindling a large amount of money during his twoterm tenure. The FIR said that the construction works of Tujpanglui and Kau-tlabung Hydro electric projects (three megawatt each) were bagged by Eastern Overseas Corporation, Mumbai and the firm, represented by the son and dependant of the former Chief Minister was given undue pecuniary benefit, police said. The complainant urged the state police to thoroughly investigate the allegations. This was the second FIR against Lal Thanawal fled by Rev Zairema. Earlier, Rev Zairema in 1996 had filed a pubic interest litigation in the Supreme Court against Lal Thanhawla when latter was in power alleging that the documents seized by income tax officials from big business houses revealed that he amassed enormous ill-gotten wealth in nexus with the businessmen on a quid pro quo basis. He filed his first FIR in the Aizawl police station in 1996 following instructions from the apex court which later monitored the investigations. The former Chief Minister was yet to be chargesheeted even after a lapse of almost six years.