Though the suspension order issued by state chief secretary L Tochhong late last evening did not cite any specific reason to Lallawmsanga, a 1984-batch IPS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre, Tochhong on Thursday told some newsmen that the government was contemplating to take disciplinary action against the principal secretary.
The suspension order said Lallawmsanga should not leave Aizawl without obtaining permission from competent authorities.
Lallawmsanga allegedly established the Mizoram Direct Marketing Limited, a multi-level marketing enterprise, and launched the same on July 18 at a function in Kolkata. The event was attended by a number of executives from top companies and former bureaucrats, especially from Tamil Nadu.
He has been accused of establishing the firm as a Mizoram government-owned company without getting the nod from the state cabinet and also sans permission from the state finance and planning departments.
The state government had earlier issued a disclaimer saying Lallawmsanga, principal secretary of the industries department, is reportedly the man behind establishing the company and launching it in his personal capacity. The disclaimer said whatever Lallawmsanga did was not on behalf of the government.
"Government officers floating a business outfit to conduct commercial activities by branding the concern as a wholly owned company by the government of Mizoram requires policy decision by the cabinet," the disclaimer said. It added that the memorandum of association & articles of association have neither been vetted by the law department nor concurred by the finance department before approaching the Registrar of Companies.