The Gauhati High Court has instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the alleged large-scale smuggling of areca nuts from Myanmar into Mizoram, according to a report by regional news outlet NENow. This directive follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Vanramchhuangi, also known as ‘Ruatfela Nu.’
In its order on Tuesday, a bench of Justices Zothankhuma and Marli Vankung determined that the offense involves commercial transactions best investigated by the CBI. The court noted that the state police have struggled to investigate due to the international nature of the smuggling operation.
The court directed the CBI to investigate the matter, register a case if necessary, and pursue it to a conclusion. Ruatfela Nu’s PIL, filed in April, criticized the Mizoram government for failing to address the smuggling and alleged the issuance of fake e-way bills by both Central GST and state GST authorities.
Affidavits from the state government and Central GST indicated that e-way bills worth over Rs. 251 crore were issued for areca nut transportation from Champhai during 2021-2024, with Central GST issuing bills on an assessable value exceeding Rs. 86.2 crore. However, the court noted that Champhai district had no areca nut production during this period, as local plantations only began in 2021 and 2022.
According to regional news outlet NENow, the issue of smuggling has grown into a political controversy, with allegations involving politicians and officials. Alleging failure on the part of the government to curb the menace, local areca nut growers took up laws into their own hands by setting up check posts in their respective areas to curb the smuggling, which resulted in the burning of large cache of smuggled areca nuts and several vehicles used for transportation of areca nuts, it was reported.