Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga was acquitted in two charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, one for misuse of power and possession of disproportionate assets. In 2009, institutions, Mizoram Upa Pawl, and the People Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram (PRISM), an old folks’ affiliation, filed a case against Zoramthanga for purportedly abusing his authority as a government employee by obtaining angle iron posts and animal welded wire from the department of agriculture for his farm in Aii puk, Sihphir.
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Zoramthanga was also the chief minister at the time. An additional charge sheet was submitted by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), saying that Zoramthanga owned assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. According to the charge sheet, Zoramthanga indicated in his affidavit in 2003 that he had assets worth Rs 54.18 lakh, which swelled to nearly Rs 1.38 crore before the 2008 elections, despite having no recognized source of income.
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In the first instance, judge Vanlalenmawia ruled on Monday that agriculture department resources were legitimately distributed to help poor farmers. According to him, the plan, Assistance to Small Marginal Farmers, gives them such fence supplies. The court also said that there was insufficient evidence to show that the accused possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. So he could not be convicted under Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. (Punishment for an offense by a public servant).
