The case filed in 1984, related to the construction of a five-storyed building at Church Road, Gangtok, and other household assets while Mr Bhandari was the chief minister of the state from 1979 to 1984.
Gangtok: A Special CBI Court today sentenced former Sikkim Chief Minister N B Bhandari to one-months jail and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 in the disproportionate assets case against him. The Pradesh Congress Committee president, during his tenure as chief minister, had amassed wealth to the tune of Rs 15.22 lakhs, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income. Special CBI judge S W Lepcha had declared him guilty under Section 5 (2) 5 1 (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 last Saturday. The Court had, however, reserved till today the quantum of punishment. Meanwhile, Mr Bhandari furnished a bail plea and the Court released him on bail after he furnished a personal bond of Rs 25,000. He can appeal against the judgement in the High Court within sixty days. The PCC chief, along with a host of his party colleagues was present in the District and Sessions Court (North and East), Gangtok which also acted as the special CBI court. During the proceeding, the CBI Counsel argued for awarding the maximum punishment to Mr Bhandari. The defence lawyer, however, appealed to the Court to take a lenient view and award the minimum term. The defence lawyer said Mr Bhandari is a senior citizen, not keeping good health and had not been convicted in any court so far. He also appealed to the court to consider the fact that Mr Bhandari had aleady suffered the mental agony and harrasment while fighting this case for 24 years. The case against Mr Bhanadri was filed in 1984 but the CBI filed the chargesheet in 1994. The case related to the construction of a five-storyed building at Church Road, Gangtok, and other household assets while Mr Bhandari was the chief minister of the state from 1979 to 1984. The land was alloted to him by the then Sikkim ruler which Mr Bhandari later gifted to his wife.
