BJP leader fined for false claim against Cong candidate
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 02 2025: Yumnam Nando Luwang, who served as the BJP booth level committee president during the 2022 assembly elections, was slapped Rs 10,000 fine by the court of Imphal East Chief Judicial Magistrate for making unsubstantiated charges against Congress candidate Pangeijam Saratchandra.

The Court also declared one month imprisonment of the accused, in case of failure to pay the penalty.

Briefing the media at the Heingang residence of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Pangeijam Saratchandra on Tuesday, Block Congress Committee general secretary Athokpam Mangi referred to a presser by Heingang Kendra BJP Mandal on August 29, 2021, during which Yumnam Nando alleged that Congress candidate Pangeijam Saratchandra had served jail time in a drug smuggling case, embezzled public funds through various schemes and went into hiding.

Nando also accused Saratchandra of extracting unspecified amount of money from students of the Enlightened Knowledge Higher Secondary School, which he operates.

"These defamatory statements were published in local newspapers and broadcast on TV channels, tarnishing Saratchandra's image and causing a wrongful perception among the public", Mangi further informed that Saratchandra filed a case in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, in September 2022.During the hearings, which lasted over two years, the court sought documents in support of the charges levelled against Saratchandra.

However, as no evidence could be furnished, the court declared Saratchandra innocent, ruling that the charges made by Nando Luwang were baseless.

Consequently, on Monday, the court decreed that Yumnam Nando cough up penalty of Rs 10,000, or face one month imprisonment, for making false charges against Saratchandra, Mangi elaborated.

Saratchandra, who was also present at the press briefing, stated that such baseless allegations are often levelled by individuals with vested interests.

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