Fmr CEM of CADC Kali Kumar Tongchangya disqualified from council membership after convicted in graft case

A special court in Aizwal convicted Kali Kumar Tongchangya and sentenced him to 4 years’ imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 4 lakh

Kali Kumar Tongchangya, the incumbent Chairman of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), has been disqualified from the membership of the Council on Wednesday after he was convicted and sentenced to four years in a graft case.

A special court in Aizwal under Prevention of Corruption Act, convicted Kali Kumar Tongchangya, former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of CADC, on Monday and sentenced him to 4 years’ imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 4 lakh on Tuesday.

According to the court’s judgment, the total amount misappropriated by Kali Kumar Tongchangya when he was Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the CADC was Rs 1,79,03,773.

The procedure said that Tongchangya, when he was CEM of the CADC, took Rs 1.70 crore from the fund meant for the construction of a road between Longpuighat and Kukurduleya village in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR). The construction of the road could not be completed due to the misappropriation of the funds meant for it by the then-CEM.

According to the press release issued by the Information & Public Relations Department, CADC, this disqualification action was in accordance with Clause (i) of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 12 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business, etc.) Rules, 2002, and as amended. This rule stipulates that a member shall be disqualified if convicted of any offense other than those referred to in clauses (f) and (g) and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years.

“Deputy Chairman of the Chakma Autonomous District Council Sundor Muni Chakma has exercised the powers provided under Sub-rule (1) of Rule 17 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business etc) Rules, 2002, and as amended, to issue the disqualification order”, the release said.

However, the notification states that, as per Sub-clause (j) of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 12 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business, etc.) Rules, 2002, and as amended, this disqualification will not take effect until three months have elapsed from the date of Kali Kumar Tongchangya’s conviction.

“If, within that period, an appeal or application for revision is preferred from the conviction or the sentence, and an interim stay against such conviction or suspension of such sentence has been obtained by him from a competent appellate or divisional court, then the disqualification will be put on hold until a final decision is reached,” the release added.

Also Read: Mizoram special court convicts former CEM Kali Kumar Tongchangya in graft case

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