AIZAWL:
Mizoram’s lone BJP legislator Buddha Dhan Chakma and 12 others, who were convicted in a graft case on July 22, were sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 each by the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) of Aizawl district, on July 25.
The Special Judge, Vanlalenmawia, also granted them bail, giving them a chance to appeal the conviction and sentence in the higher court for a period of 90 days. They would be arrested if they do not appeal their convictions and sentences during the appeal period, the court said.
“The convicts were awarded minimum punishment in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as they have already repaid the money they had misappropriated,” the special judge said, while pronouncing the sentence.
The sentence was delivered in an open court where Vanlalenmawia announced that on default of payment of Rs 10,000, the convicted persons would have to undergo additional 30 days of simple imprisonment.
The 12 others convicted in the case included incumbent chief executive member (CEM) Chakma, two executive members (EM), two members of district council (MDC) and two former EMs of the Chakma ADC.
Those convicted included Dr B D Chakma MLA, CADC CEM B L Chakma, EMs – Ajoy Kumar Chakma and Mohan Chakma, MDCs – Buban Kumar Chakma and ex-CEM Amit Kumar Chakma, Amar Smitri Chakma, ex-CEM Adikanta Tongchongya, Parimal Chakma, Susen Chakma, Taranisen Chakma, Sushil Kumar Chakma and Chitra Kumar Chakma.
All of the convicted persons have been either CEM or EMs during 2013-2018.
Earlier on July 22, the special judge had convicted the 13 people, all belonging to the Chakma community, including former minister B D Chakma and B L Chakma in a graft case under section 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
B D Chakma is the first legislator convicted of a graft case in the history of Mizoram.
The order said that the total amount of money misappropriated was Rs 137.10 lakh and the amount allocated for developmental works was withdrawn as advance salaries by these 13 people.
Ironically, the corruption cases against the convicted people, which included the lone BJP legislator in the state assembly, was initiated by the then general secretary of the BJP state unit and the current president Vanlalhmuaka by making a written complaint to the state governor.
All the convicted persons said that they would appeal the conviction and sentence of the special court expeditiously while their counsel A K Rokhum said that the investigation officer should not have submitted the chargesheet in the first place as the accused had already repaid the amount they had withdrawn.