By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 22: The legal counsel of Henry Lalremsanga has slapped a legal notice on Trinamool Congress leader, Mukul M Sangma for labelling him a drug kingpin.
K Kharmawphlang, the counsel, asked Sangma to tender an apology within seven days for the drug slur against the Mizoram-based Lalremsanga.
Earlier this week, the TMC leader told the state Assembly that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was a close associate of Lalremsanga, an alleged drug kingpin who had been arrested in the past.
According to the notice, Lalremsanga was wrongfully arrested in 2013 in relation to a seizure of medical supplies despite holding a valid license for such supplies. He was acquitted in 2018 by a special court in New Delhi handling the NDPS Act, citing a lack of evidence of any offence committed.
Seeking an immediate halt to making or publishing any more false and defamatory remarks against Lalremsanga, the counsel said Rs 20 crore should be paid within seven days of the receipt of the notice as compensation for harming his client’s reputation.
“Failure to comply with the stated demands within the stipulated time will compel Lalremsanga to pursue both criminal and civil legal actions, holding the perpetrators accountable for their defamatory statements,” the notice said.
Unfazed, Sangma said his team would take up the matter.
“The provisions of the law under which the notice has been served will be examined,” he said when asked if a legal notice on a statement made in the Assembly would hold water.
“My statement in the House was more of an advisory to the CM, who has taken it outside the Assembly. He (Lalremsanga) should send a legal notice to the CM,” the TMC leader said.
Pointing out that the Assembly Speaker had expunged his statement, he said he had expressed his concern about the extent of the drug menace in Meghalaya and its effect on the youth.