Mizoram: Court dismisses CM’s age-fudge case

AIZAWL, May 26, 2018: Following a court summon, the chief minister of Mizoram Lal Thanhawla appeared before the chief judicial magistrate, Serchhip, on Friday in connection with a false affidavit case.

A criminal complaint was filed by deputy controller of mines Lalhriatrenga Chhangte on January 27 accusing the chief minister of concealing information about owning a plot of land in Calcutta and his actual age in his affidavit while filing nomination for the 2013 Assembly election.

Chhangte had first accused Thanhawla of concealing information in a Facebook post in November last year, alleging that he owned a plot in Calcutta, where he is constructing a multi-storeyed building, but had failed to declare it while filing nomination from Serchhip in 2013 and also fabricated information about his actual age in the affidavit.

On his arrival, Lal Thanhawla was greeted by a host of Congress workers while the complainant was accompanied by youth members of the Mizo National Front (MNF).

The chief minister, accompanied by his counsels, Remsanga Nghak and Lalthanpuia, submitted documents and objections to the allegations made by Chhangte, who was also accompanied by his two counsels

Chief judicial magistrate Lalngaihmawia Zote heard the submissions and dismissed the allegation of concealing the actual age on the ground that it had crossed the limitation period of a year.

The court decided to carry out cross-examination of the accused and complainant's claims on June 25.

TNT with inputs from The Telegraph

Image Courtesy: The Telegraph (Henry L. Khojol)