Aizawl: The Aizawl bench of Gauhati high court on Friday stayed the framing of charges against two former Mizoram tourism ministers and a former legislator in connection with alleged irregularities in the Swadesh Darshan 1.0 eco-adventure circuit project.Justice Budi Habung ordered that the proceedings be kept in abeyance until August 17, when the matter will be heard again.The petitioners are former tourism ministers John Rotluangliana and Robert Romawia Royte, who is now an MLA, and former legislator Lalrindika Ralte.The special judge (Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988), Aizawl, had held that a prima facie case existed for framing charges against them under Sections 120B, 406, 409 and 420 of the IPC and Sections 11 and 13(2), read with Section 13(1)(a) and (b), of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.The high court noted that the petitioners’ discharge applications were pending before the special court and directed that the framing of charges be deferred until the next hearing. The petitioners submitted that although the special judge had recorded the existence of a prima facie case, formal charges had yet to be framed. The case had been listed for July 29, 2026, for framing of charges.The state anti-corruption bureau, which investigated the case following an order by the special public prosecutor of the Mizoram Lokayukta, filed a chargesheet alleging misappropriation of a large sum of money.The Rs 99-crore project, comprising a ropeway between Durtlang and Chaltlang and a skywalk at Sakawrhmuituai Tlang, came under scrutiny following an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.The CAG flagged more than Rs 15 crore in wasteful expenditure, citing unviable planning and the absence of mandatory clearances.
