Aizawl, June 17 (UNI) C. Ngunlianchunga, the sole Congress representative in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, was granted bail by the Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act) in Aizawl in connection with a corruption case for which he was recently charge-sheeted, according to court officials on Tuesday.
The former minister had sought bail on the grounds that the investigation had concluded and the charge sheet had already been submitted.
His counsel, Lalfakawma, argued that Ngunlianchunga is a permanent resident of the state, and therefore unlikely to abscond. “He is an elected legislator and arresting him at this juncture would cause undue damage to his reputation, especially when the trial is just beginning,” the lawyer stated. It was also submitted that the accused is undergoing treatment for rectal cancer, adding to the urgency of his bail plea.
Special Judge F. Rohlupuia, after reviewing the submissions and case records, ruled in favour of the bail application.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s guidelines laid out in Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI & Anr. [(2021) 10 SCC 773], the judge deemed it appropriate to allow bail.
Ngunlianchunga was released on a bond of Rs 2 lakh backed by a reliable surety. However, the court stipulated that he must attend all court hearings without fail, warning that failure to do so could lead to cancellation of the bail.
The court scheduled the next hearing for July 22, when Ngunlianchunga will be required to appear again.
The charges against him include Sections 409, 120B, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 11, 13(2) read with 13(1)(a)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The allegations also involve other political figures from the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), where Ngunlianchunga once held the position of Chief Executive Member (CEM).
The case stems from a complaint submitted to the Mizoram Lokayukta regarding suspected embezzlement of funds earmarked for the construction of a bypass road in Lawngtlai town, a district bordering Myanmar in southern Mizoram. The project was funded through the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) in 2013, during Ngunlianchunga’s tenure as CEM.
Following preliminary findings, the Lokayukta authorised the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to initiate a probe. The state’s investigative agency subsequently registered a case in 2022 under SR (PCA) No. 3 of 2025, arising from ACB P.S. Case No. 4 of 2022.
UNI ZS RN