...ADMITTED TO STNM HOSPITAL WITH CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS
GANGTOK, 10 Aug: Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president, former Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, surrendered at the court of Special Judge, Prevention of Corruption Act, East and North Sikkim, where, after paying a total fine of Rs. 10,000 [Rs. 5,000 each for the two counts that he has been convicted under], he was taken to the State Jail at Rongyek to serve his one-month simple imprisonment. Mr. Bhandari is reported to have developed health complications and was brought down to the STNM Hospital later in the day where he has been admitted with cardiac complications.
Mr. Bhandari’s incarceration follows the High Court upholding his conviction in a CBI case made out under the Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to a rural water supply scheme undertaken in Sikkim during Mr. Bhandari’s first term as Chief Minister of Sikkim [1979-84] when he led a Congress government here. While the trial court had sentenced him to 6 months simple imprisonment, the High Court had reduced this to one month.
Also in the Court today were the co-accused in the case whose convictions were also upheld by the High Court but whose prison terms had been set aside. They were in court to submit the fines imposed on them following their convictions.
Also in the court today in connection with submitting their fines were, the then RDD Secretary, PK Pradhan [later Chief Secretary], Norbu Tshering Bhutia, Sonam Wangdi Bhutia and AB Gurung. The fifth co-accused, Sriniwas Agarwal, could not make it to the Court personally since he was flying in from Kolkata.
The convictions of Harka Singh Chewan, Hari Prasad Rai, Ratna Bahadur Subba and Hari Prasad Sharma by the trial court in relation to this case, it may be recalled, have been set aside by the High Court.
Also in the Court today were Congress supporters who accompanied Mr. Bhandari when he surrendered himself. The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee, in a press statement issued today, has prayed for his early recovery. The same release also prays for the early return to sound health of the UPA chairperson, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, who is recuperating in USA following an operation.
Speaking to media-persons at the Court today, Mr. Bhandari accepted the verdict as one he holds no grudges against. “It is fine because I had undertaken the project [rural water supply scheme] to meet the needs of the people. If this is what comes my way for it, I accept it and will go to jail for the people,” he said.
He also said that he will return to politics after serving out his prison term of one month.
GANGTOK, 10 Aug: Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president, former Chief Minister, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, surrendered at the court of Special Judge, Prevention of Corruption Act, East and North Sikkim, where, after paying a total fine of Rs. 10,000 [Rs. 5,000 each for the two counts that he has been convicted under], he was taken to the State Jail at Rongyek to serve his one-month simple imprisonment. Mr. Bhandari is reported to have developed health complications and was brought down to the STNM Hospital later in the day where he has been admitted with cardiac complications.
Mr. Bhandari’s incarceration follows the High Court upholding his conviction in a CBI case made out under the Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to a rural water supply scheme undertaken in Sikkim during Mr. Bhandari’s first term as Chief Minister of Sikkim [1979-84] when he led a Congress government here. While the trial court had sentenced him to 6 months simple imprisonment, the High Court had reduced this to one month.
Also in the Court today were the co-accused in the case whose convictions were also upheld by the High Court but whose prison terms had been set aside. They were in court to submit the fines imposed on them following their convictions.
Also in the court today in connection with submitting their fines were, the then RDD Secretary, PK Pradhan [later Chief Secretary], Norbu Tshering Bhutia, Sonam Wangdi Bhutia and AB Gurung. The fifth co-accused, Sriniwas Agarwal, could not make it to the Court personally since he was flying in from Kolkata.
The convictions of Harka Singh Chewan, Hari Prasad Rai, Ratna Bahadur Subba and Hari Prasad Sharma by the trial court in relation to this case, it may be recalled, have been set aside by the High Court.
Also in the Court today were Congress supporters who accompanied Mr. Bhandari when he surrendered himself. The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee, in a press statement issued today, has prayed for his early recovery. The same release also prays for the early return to sound health of the UPA chairperson, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, who is recuperating in USA following an operation.
Speaking to media-persons at the Court today, Mr. Bhandari accepted the verdict as one he holds no grudges against. “It is fine because I had undertaken the project [rural water supply scheme] to meet the needs of the people. If this is what comes my way for it, I accept it and will go to jail for the people,” he said.
He also said that he will return to politics after serving out his prison term of one month.
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