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Silchar/Aizawl, Sept. 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Mizoram state police is expected to submit in three days the chargesheet against two senior PWD officials and a retired PWD engineer in a case of alleged embezzlement of over Rs 6 crore.
The funds had been given by the Centre for renovating the 75km road between Sherkhan in Mizoram and Bhaga Bazaar in Cachar district. The accused officials are Mizoram PWD chief engineer Lianchhungnunga, former chief engineer Liansanga and senior accountant B. Thanpuia.
The officials were arrested by the bureau on August 17 in Aizawl but released on interim bail after their lawyers submitted medical certificates, citing ill health. The investigation into the case started after a Mizoram NGO, Prism, filed an FIR on November 3, 2009, with the bureau alleging there were many discrepancies in the bills submitted by the accused for construction of the road.
Senior police officials in Aizawl last night said the ACB undertook extensive investigation after another Aizawl-based NGO, Hmarphei Zirlai Pawl, filed another FIR in this connection.
A bureau source told this correspondent over phone from Aizawl today that the bail plea of the arrested would be heard in the court of the district and sessions judge on Monday.
The source said the trio were slapped with corruption cases after investigation by the bureau revealed that the department had completed work on only 12.8km of the 75km stretch “utilising” the total fund of Rs 6.5 crore.
Altogether 19 organisations, including six political parties in Aizawl, have decided to hold a public rally on Monday to keep vigil and send a message to authorities that the officials under investigation need to be suspended.
The arrested trio had continued in office during investigations and are yet to be suspended even after their arrest.
In a separate development, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl urged all colleges to use their UGC grants properly. The organisation had recently filed an FIR against a local college principal for misusing funds, following which he was suspended.
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