Mizoram's lone BJP MLA sentenced to 1 year in jail in corruption case
Aizawl, Jul 25: Mizoram's lone BJP MLA Buddha Dhan Chakma along with 12 other leaders was sentenced to one year in prison in a corruption case by a special court on Monday.
Special judge Vanlalenmawia sentenced 13 people, including the Tuichawng legislator, to imprisonment for one year for embezzling Rs 1.37 crore of Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) between 2013 and 2018.
The court convicted them on July 22 under section 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for abusing their official powers and withdrawing the money from the special assistance fund meant for development works.
The other convicts are incumbent Chief Executive Member (CEM) of CADC Buddha Lila Chakma, two executive members, two sitting members (MDC) and three former CEMs. The other four are former executive members of the CADC, which governs parts of Lawngtlai district in southern Mizoram.
All of them were members of the CADC when the corruption happened.
A fine of Rs 10,000 each was also imposed on them by the court, which said they would undergo simple imprisonment for another 30 days if they fail to pay.
Soon after the hearing, the court released the convicts on bail following a plea by their counsel that they would challenge the verdict at a higher court.
In 2017, state BJP president Vanlalhmuaka urged the governor to dissolve the Chakma council, alleging irregularities.
Following this, the governor asked the then deputy commissioner (DC) of Lawngtlai A Muthamma to probe the matter. After the DC submitted his report to the governor, an FIR was filed with the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2018.
Congress was in power in CADC in 2013, and Budhha Dhan Chakma headed it as the CEM.
Chakma was later elected an MLA on a Congress ticket, and became a minister in the state's then Lal Thanhawla government. He resigned in 2017 in protest against the denial of medical seats to four Chakma students by the state government.
Soon after his resignation, he joined the BJP and was elected as an MLA in the 2018 assembly elections. He is the first BJP MLA of the state.
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Porsche car crash case exposed systemic corruption: Pune police commissioner
Pune (PTI): The Porsche car crash case exposed "systemic corruption," but the Pune Police have successfully uncovered the nexus behind the replacement of the accused juvenile's blood samples with those of his mother, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday.
The case made national headlines after the high-end car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in an inebriated state mowed down motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa in the Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year.
"Last year’s Porsche car crash case sparked widespread discussions about Pune’s deteriorating social culture, alleged police corruption, and several other issues. Amid all the criticism, one positive aspect stood out: the case exposed systemic corruption.
"It also demonstrated how the police, working within the same system, managed to uncover the entire nexus behind the replacement of the juvenile’s blood samples with those of his mother," Kumar said while addressing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, organised at Modern College.
He added that the juvenile has been released since he was a minor.
"However, his mother has remained in jail for over a year, and his father continues to be behind bars. Doctors from Sassoon Hospital and others involved are also still in jail," Kumar said, adding that one mistake by a child, and an attempt by his parents to cover it up, destroyed an entire family.
He said the police will follow up on this case until every guilty person is punished.
Kumar also appealed to students to stay away from intoxicating substances and drugs.
"You are not only endangering your own life but also putting your entire family at risk," he said, urging the youth not to fall prey to harmful addictions.
"Instead, stand strong and act as a force to ensure that drug abuse is curbed in your surroundings. We assure you of full police support," he added.
He further stated that if youth from all colleges unite and decide to end this menace, "the day is not far when not even one gram of drug will be sold in the city".
The investigation into the car crash had revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.
The roles of Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department, Medical Officer Shreehari Halnor, and a hospital staffer came under scrutiny.
While the mother is currently out on bail, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Taware and Halnor, staffer Atul Ghatkamble, two middlemen, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, and others remain in jail for the alleged blood sample swap.
