Aizawl: Mizoram’s principal opposition party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), on Thursday accused the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM)-led government of failing to take concrete steps to initiate a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Rs 187.90 crore Lengpui land scam.
Addressing a press conference, MNF legal board vice-chairman Lalpiangfela Chawngthu said that while the state government has issued a notification granting general consent for a CBI inquiry, it has not followed up with the necessary procedural steps to set the investigation in motion.
“The government has not taken any meaningful step. It appears they neither intend to pursue a CBI investigation nor have the courage to do so,” Chawngthu alleged.
He argued that granting general consent alone does not automatically trigger a CBI probe. For the investigation to begin, the state must submit a formal complaint along with a specific request to the CBI director—something the MNF claims has not yet been done.
Chawngthu further said that MNF representatives had sought a meeting with the chief secretary last month to review progress on the matter but were instead directed to the vigilance department. Although the party later met the vigilance secretary and requested relevant documents, including copies of the notification, these have not been provided despite assurances, he added.
The controversy centres on land near Lengpui, about 32 km from Aizawl, where the Indian Air Force had acquired property for an airfield. The opposition has alleged irregularities in the compensation process, claiming that a significant portion of the funds was disbursed to individuals who were not the original landowners, while genuine claimants received comparatively little.
Both the MNF and the Congress have lodged separate complaints seeking a CBI probe into the matter. They have also flagged alleged “dubious financial transactions” and raised concerns over the speed at which the compensation process was carried out, issues that surfaced in recent media reports.
The ZPM government, however, has maintained that it has already fulfilled its part by granting consent for a CBI investigation following complaints from opposition parties. The MNF, meanwhile, insists that without formal escalation and supporting documentation, the probe cannot proceed.
The issue has further sharpened political tensions in the state, with opposition parties continuing to demand greater transparency and accountability in the handling of the case.