Aizawl: Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha MP, K Vanlalvena, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a high-level probe by a central agency into the alleged misuse of public funds in a controversial land acquisition near Aizawl.
In his letter, the Mizo National Front (MNF) leader urged Shah to direct an appropriate central investigating agency to examine alleged irregularities in the purchase of land near Lengpui Airport and Sihphir village, involving an amount of Rs 187.90 crore.
Vanlalvena said he had tried to raise the matter in Parliament during Zero Hour but was unable to do so. “This has forced me to write directly to the Union home minister,” he said.
In his letter, Vanlalvena said, “It has come to light that lands near Mizoram’s lone Lengpui Airport and Sihphir village near Aizawl, acquired by the state govt purportedly for the establishment of air defence systems by the Indian Air Force, were purchased at exorbitant rates in violation of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.”
He alleged that more than Rs 187.9 crore in public funds may have been siphoned off through intermediaries, raising serious concerns of corruption and collusion. Citing the gravity of the matter, he said accountability must be ensured and those responsible brought to justice.
He further claimed that mandatory legal procedures, including publication of acquisition notifications in newspapers, consultations with village councils and the conduct of social impact assessments, were bypassed.
The issue has sparked a sharp political confrontation in the state, pitting the opposition MNF and Congress against the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM). Both the MNF and Congress have demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe following recent media reports that flagged the alleged irregularities.
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On Thursday, the MNF and Congress submitted separate complaints to the state Chief Vigilance Officer and the CBI, seeking a federal investigation into the alleged scam. Although the ruling ZPM initially announced that it would also approach the CBI to demonstrate its integrity, the party later deferred the move.
