“Drugs kingpin” remark: Fmr Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma issued legal notice, to pay Rs 20 cr in damages in 7 days

TMC leader Mukul Sangma in his statement in the Meghalaya Assembly had referred to Henry Lalremsanga, Chairman of B2’s group of companies as a "drugs kingpin"

Henry Lalremsanga, Chairman of B2’s Group of Companies, has slapped a legal notice, Rs 20 crore in damages to be paid in 7 days and an unconditional apology from former Meghalaya Chief Minister and TMC leader Mukul Sangma for making malicious and defamatory statements against Lalremsanga on the floor of the Meghalaya Assembly just a couple of days back.
The former Chief Minister had referred to Lalremsanga as a “Drug Kingpin” and a close associate of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Mukul Sangma was taking part in a motion on the menace of drugs and substance abuse in the state.

The legal notice demands:

1. An Unconditional Apology: A retraction of the false and malicious statements within 7 days of the receipt of this notice.

As per the notice, 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 mentioned, “Legal counsel representing Mr. Henry Lalremsanga, the Chairman of 2B’s Group of Companies, has issued a legal notice in response to false and malicious statements made on 19.09.2023 and 20.09.2023, incorrectly labelling Mr. Lalremsanga as a ‘Drug Kingpin’ by Dr. Mukul Sangma.

The legal notice serves to address the unfounded accusations and character attacks made against Mr. Lalremsanga during a State Assembly session and subsequent media talks. These damaging allegations have been widely circulated, causing considerable harm to Mr. Lalremsanga’s personal and professional reputation.”

The notice also cited about what had actually happened regarding the wrongful arrest of Lalrmesanga. It said, ” Mr. 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.”
“The recent defamatory statements, void of factual basis, have caused significant distress to Mr. Lalremsanga, his family, and the businesses he oversees. These statements have also indirectly tarnished the image of the Mizo community.

Legal counsel for Mr. Lalremsanga contends 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 longstanding business relationships and causing extreme mental and emotional distress to Mr. Lalremsanga and his family. The legal notice demands:

An Unconditional Apology: A retraction of the false and malicious statements within 7 days of the receipt of this notice.

Cease and Desist: An immediate halt to making or publishing any more false and defamatory remarks against Mr. Lalremsanga.

Damages: Payment of Rs.20,00,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty Crore only) within 7 days of the receipt of this notice as compensation for injury to Mr. 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. 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. Mr. 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 notice added.

On September 19, Mukul Sangma in a shocking statement had accused Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to be a close associate of an alleged drug kingpin, hailing from Mizoram.

Not only this, the Meghalaya TMC Legislatur Party leader had also displayed a photo that showed Conrad Sangma, his wife and Lalremsanga sitting together at an event in the national capital. Mukul Sangma stated that Lalremsanga’s entry was arranged by the Chief Minister’s Office.

Referring to a news item, Mukul Sangma had said in the Assembly, “A commerce graduate from Mizoram has been arrested with the seizure of Rs 6 crore worth banned tablets allegedly from the son of a Congress MLA. Henry Lalremsanga, whom police described as the kingpin of the gang, was arrested…along with Arvind Ahuja, son of former MLA Ashok Ahuja…”

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