By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: All India Congress Committee (AICC) Meghalaya in charge, Sanjay Bapna, on Monday said that the court will take its own views with regards to a criminal petition filed by Independent legislator from South Tura John Leslee K Sangma accusing Congress leaders of ‘cheating’ him by ‘colluding’ to deny him a party ticket for the February Assembly polls.
Speaking to The Shillong Times over phone, Bapna said, “The allegation does not hold any substance,”
The Independent legislator filed the petition under Section 200 of CrPC, in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking action against Tura Block Congress Committee secretary Margaret T Sangma, former Congress legislator Billykid A Sangma, former minister AH Scott Lyngdoh, who is also a general secretary of Meghalaya PCC, and AICC leaders Dhaniram Shandil and Sanjay Bapna.
According to Bapna, it is for the court to decide on the matter and the party would take legal recourse when the matter is brought to its notice.
The Independent MLA has sought action against all those named under Section 418 (cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest the offender is bound to protect), Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention) of the IPC.
When contacted, AH Scott Lyngdoh said that he has not been actively involved with the party for several months now.
“I was not part of the party when the decision was taken to field the candidates,” he said.
Sources on Monday said that the court had entrusted a magistrate with the task of recording the deposition of the petitioner, witnesses and others and the court will examine the witnesses on May 13.
As per media reports, the South Tura MLA had paid Rs 15,000 to the MPCC as application fee, Rs 10,000 as contribution and another Rs 7,000 to the Block Congress Committee as nomination fee expecting a ticket.
However, he was denied the ticket despite having garnered majority support from the primary Congress committees.
According to sources, there are some more cases which will be filed by some leaders against the Congress party where the party collected hefty amount promising ticket to the candidates. However, the names of the candidates who are planning to file petitions have not been revealed as yet.
John had defeated Billykid by a wafer-thin margin of 18 votes to win the South Tura seat.