Mixed Bag: Mizoram's only BJP MLA Chakma convicted :::: Mamata's Man Friday Partha Chatterjee arrested by ED

Mamata's man Partha Chatterjee: snap Zee News

New Delhi

In a crucial development and bringing an end to a fierce litigation, Mizoram's
only BJP legislator Dr Buddha Dhan Chakma, chief executive member of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) was convicted in a corruption case.

The order was passed by the Court of the Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act). The judge Vanlalenmawia also convicted 12 others including two executive members and two sitting members of district council.

Chakma is the first legislator convicted in a graft case in the history of Mizoram.

The saffron party will be embarrassed by the development certainly.

Only consolation for the BJP would be that Chakma was a Congressman previously and the period of allegation of corruption to the tune of Rs 137.10 lakh was when Chakma was still in the grand old party.

The original allegation was made by a local BJP leader only. Chakma joined the BJP in 2018 and was elected as a legislator to become the first ever BJP legislator in the state.

Dr Chakma while coming out from the courtroom said he would immediately appeal to the Gauhati High Court.

The judge is expected to pronounce the quantum of sentence on Monday, July 25.  

The court 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that the total amount of money misappropriated was Rs 137.10 lakh and the amount allocated for developmental works was withdrawn as 'advance salaries' by these 13 accused people.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.

The political party in power at the CADC then was the Congress party headed by CEM Dr. B.D. Chakma, who later was elected as MLA and became a minister of state before he resigned after massive protests by student organisations against Chakma students being included in the technical courses outside the state.

BD Chakma later joined the BJP and was elected as a legislator in 2018 to become the first ever BJP MLA in the state.

Following Vanlalhmuaka's complaint, the then governor constituted a one-man inquiry commission of Dr A. Muthamma, the then deputy commissioner of southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai district within which jurisdiction the CADC was situated.

After the Muthamma commission submitted its inquiry report to the state governor, Zohmingthanga, under secretary of the state District Council and Minority Affairs filed FIR to the SP of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on April 18, 2018.

ends 

Mamata's Man Friday Partha Chatterjee arrested by ED

Nirendra Dev 

New Delhi 

Mamata Banerjee's Man Friday and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee was arrested 

by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday, July 23, after being questioned for around 26 hours in 

connection with an alleged scam in recruitment of teachers in state-run schools.

Chatterjee was taken to the ED's office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, and will be produced in court later in the 

day. 

He was allegedly not cooperating with ED officials who were questioning him since Friday morning. 

The scam pertained to recruitment of group 'C' and 'D' staff, assistant teachers of classes 11 and 12 and

primary teachers.

ED had recovered Rs 20 crore in cash from one of the properties of Chatterjee's close associate Arpita Mukherjee in 

south Kolkata. Mukherjee was also detained.

Chatterjee was the state education minister when the scam took place and the ED was probing the money laundering 

aspect based on an FIR by the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) that was filed following orders of the 

Calcutta High Court. 

ends