Guwahati: Lone BJP MLA in Mizoram, BD Chakma, and 12 other people were given one-year prison terms for fraud.
The verdict was announced by Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Vanlalenmawia at the District Court of Aizawl. The prisoners also had to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000.
Chakma is now the first legislator to be found guilty of graft in Mizoram.
All 13 persons including Chakma and Chakma Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member (CEM) Buddha Lila Chakma, were convicted on July 22 in a graft case under Section 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The others—all members of the autonomous council—are Amar Smriti Chakma, Adikanta Tongchangya; Parimal Chakma, Sushil Kumar Chakma, Chitra Kumar Chakma, Ajoy Kumar Chakma, Buban Kumar Chakma, Mohan Chakma, Amit Kumar Chakma, Susen Chakma, and Taranisen Chakma.
They were reportedly found guilty of abusing their position of authority by stealing Rs 1,541,73,238 and diverting cash intended for development from the Central government.
Moreover, a complaint was made to the governor of Mizoram regarding alleged severe financial irregularities and the misappropriation of monies intended to carry out development projects.
Chakma was a member of the Congress when the then-BJP general secretary submitted the complaint. He became the first BJP lawmaker ever when he won the Assembly elections in 2018.
He was also the Chakma Autonomous District Council’s fifteenth chief executive member. He also served as a minister of state in the previous Congress-led administration. He now serves as the Mizoram Legislative Assembly’s representative for the Tuichawng district.
In response to the complaint, the governor launched an investigation, and in 2018 a FIR was presented to the state’s anti-corruption bureau.