Lalremsanga issues legal notice to Mukul; demands unconditional apology for ‘drug kingpin’ statement

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 22: Legal counsel representing Henry Lalremsanga, the Chairman of 2B’s Group of Companies, K Kharmawphlang today issued a legal notice to former chief minister Mukul Sangma demanding him to tender an unconditional apology within 7 days for incorrectly labelling Lalremsanga as a ‘drug kingpin’.

The notice was in response to the statements made by Mukul on September 19 and 20.

The legal notice demanded the former chief minister to tender an unconditional apology and a retraction of the false and malicious statements within 7 days of the receipt of this notice.

It also demanded an immediate halt to making or publishing any more false and defamatory remarks against Lalremsanga and a payment of Rs 20 crore within 7 days of the receipt of this notice as compensation for injury to Lalremsanga’s reputation.

“Failure to comply with the stated demands within the stipulated time will compel Mr Lalremsanga to pursue both criminal and civil legal actions, holding the perpetrators accountable for their defamatory statements,” the notice said.

It said, “This legal notice serves as a final opportunity for reparation for the damage caused to Mr Lalremsanga’s reputation. It is highlighted that a person in public life is expected to exercise a degree of restraint while making public speeches, as underscored by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”

It said Henry Lalremsanga, through this notice, endeavours to seek rightful justice against the falsehoods disseminated about him, and earnestly hopes for swift rectification and due closure to this distressing ordeal.

The legal notice also served to address the unfounded accusations and character attacks made against Lalremsanga during a State Assembly session and subsequent media talks.

“These damaging allegations have been widely circulated, causing considerable harm to Lalremsanga’s personal and professional reputation.

Lalremsanga was wrongfully arrested in 2013 in relation to a seizure of medical supplies, despite holding a valid license for such supplies. He was discharged by the Special Court, ND & PS Act, Patiala House Court, New Delhi in 2018, citing a lack of evidence of any offence committed,” it said.

“The recent defamatory statements, void of factual basis, have caused significant distress to Lalremsanga, his family, and the businesses he oversees. These statements have also indirectly tarnished the image of the Mizo community,” it added.

Legal counsel for Lalremsanga contended that the ill-conceived remarks are not only detrimental but are made with deliberate intentions to gain political mileage, thereby knowingly causing harm to his reputation. It was further stressed that these baseless allegations have resulted in irreversible damages, impacting long-standing business relationships and causing extreme mental and emotional distress to  Lalremsanga and his family.

Conrad terms allegations as ‘ridiculous’

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today termed the allegation of former chief minister Mukul Sangma over a photograph of him and a person, who was arrested as kingpin in a drug haul in Mizoram, as the most ridiculous way of proving anything.

Mukul had accused the chief minister of having a close association with a drug kingpin from Mizoram while producing a photograph of Conrad, his wife and Henry Lalremsanga, who was arrested on April 23, 2013, in connection with the seizure of Rs six crore worth banned pseudoephedrine tablets.

The serious allegation was made in the Assembly during a discussion on a motion related to the drug menace in the State.

“It is sad that a person of his (Mukul) level brought in a photograph and just jumped to a conclusion. Connecting people based on a photograph of two people being clicked together I think in today’s world, it is the most ridiculous way of proving anything. So I have no comment to say about that,” Conrad told reporters.

Stating that he clicked pictures with millions of people being a public figure, he said, “I meet and I sit and I click pictures with millions of people. Even while walking in the street, somebody will stop me, I never say no, because we are public figures.”

“I think connecting two individuals’ activities based on and coming to a conclusion based on a photograph I think is the most illogical conclusion that anybody can jump to,” Conrad said while adding “It has to be based on evidence and on proof of what activities were taking place. I have no clue number one, what these activities were and I know many people and individuals who are there and as public figures, we need to talk to everybody.”

“So does the court case or whatever police case that was filed that have Conrad Sangma’s name in it? I think that is the precise question. Whether we were called for any kind of discussion on it or any kind of case was filed against us, I think that is the basis on which a statement of this level by a person of his stature should be made,” he added.

The chief minister said he would act on the matter as per the rules and procedures that are there in the House.

“As per rule, whatever the ruled in procedure is there in the house, whatever the honourable speaker has mentioned accordingly we will take it but as I said this nothing to react for my side when there is no basis on which these kinds of talks have been made,” he said.

Govt bats for change in MLAs pension

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 15: The Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya (Member’s Pension) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to reduce the qualifying years of 2 years and 6 months for an MLA to be eligible to receive a pension, was tabled in the first day of the Assembly’s autumn session held today.

 

Stating the object and reasons after introducing the Bill, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Parliamentary Affairs Prestone Tynsong said that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has proposed to reduce the qualifying years of 2 years and 6 months as contained in proviso to section 3 (l) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Member’s Pension) Act, 1977.

 

He said that the existing provision in section 3 of the said Act puts a cap of 2 years and 6 months for an MLA to be eligible to receive a pension. In view of this law, members who have served as an MLA for less than this period were not eligible to receive a pension.

 

Tynsong also said there are few persons who were members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly who have fallen short of 2 years and 6 months as required in section proviso to section 3 (l) of the said Act and thus ineligible to receive a pension.

 

“To enable these persons to be eligible to receive a pension, the instant amendment is being placed. Therefore the proposal to amend section 3 of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (Member’s Pension) Act, 1977 by inserting a new proviso and by giving it retrospective effect is being proposed in the amendment. Hence, this Bill,” he said.  

 

In the financial memorandum, Assembly’s Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons said that the additional expenditures will be involved from the consolidated fund of the State while implementing this amendment provision.

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