MIZORAM COURT SENTENCES LONE BJP MLA, 12 OTHERS TO 1-YEAR IMPRISONMENT

Aizawl, July 25 (IANS) A local court in Mizoram on Monday sentenced the state’s lone BJP MLA Buddha Dhan Chakma and 12 others to one-year rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for a 10-year-old corruption case. The BJP legislator, however, after the court verdict said that they would move to the Gauhati High Court against the judgment of the court of the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act). Besides the 49-year-old BJP MLA, the other 12 Chakma leaders include Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC)Chief Executive Member (CEM) Buddha Lila Chakma, two Executive Members, and three former CEMs of the autonomous body. The court on Friday convicted the MLA and 12 other Chakma leaders under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, say- ing that they misappropriated Rs 137.10 lakh allocated by the government for developmental work. The accused had taken the money as “advance salary” without the permission of the Governor and the state government. The graft cases against the 13 leaders were initiated by the then state BJP General Secretary and the incumbent state party President Vanlalhmuaka, who had submitted a written complaint to the then Governor in 2013.