TURA, NOV 14: Meghalaya’s social welfare minister Deborah Marak was granted bail on Friday by the Chief Judicial Magistrate court at Williamnagar in East Garo hills district in connection with the allegations that she had used GNLA to intimate people to vote for her during the last assembly elections.
Deborah was summoned by the court after police file a charge-sheet for allegedly using the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) during the assembly election.
The CJM F Silkam Sangma asked the defence counsel appearing for Deborah Marak to pay a surety of Rs. 1 lakh. Flanked by her husband she arrived at the court at 11 am. She was represented by Kaustav Paul. The defence advocate moved two petitions for Deborah, which was accepted by the court.
Paul pleaded that Deborah’s counsel be allowed to represent for trial procedures. “Court has heard our plea and has permitted it”, said Paul.
The court has fixed the next hearing for November 26.
This is the first time that a sitting minister in Meghalaya is facing trial for politician-militant nexus.
“I am a law abiding citizen and have appeared before the court”, Deborah said.
Political activist Tennydard Marak, who was also named in the charge-sheet along with the minister, was also granted bail and has been asked not to leave the court’s jurisdiction.
Tennydard had gone missing after the morning session. However, he appeared before the court 2 hours later and pleaded his innocence. His defence advocate Sabina Sangma told the court that she could not inform the accused and there was communication gap due to which information could not be provided to Tennydard.
On November 3, the police had filed the charge-sheet against Deborah and Tennydard based on an FIR filed by Independent candidate Jonathone Sangma who had contested but lost the elections.
There were posters and banners that stated that anyone voting for Jonathone Sangma will have to face bullets.
The police had filed chargesheet against Deborah under Sections 102(B), 171(F) and 506 of the IPC after gathering evidence to prove that she had used underground elements to intimidate voters of independent candidate Jonathon Sangma on the eve of the 2013 assembly elections.
While Section 120(B) deals with criminal conspiracy, Section 171(F) is about undue influence in elections, and Section 506 is about criminal intimidation. Of these a person held guilty under Section 120(B) can be imprisoned up to six months, under Section 171(F) up to one year and under Section 506 up to seven years.
Interestingly, the FIR does not mention direct involvement of Deborah in the case.- From Our Correspondent
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