The Hindu : National : Assam Government plans to reopen LoC scam case

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Assam Government plans to reopen LoC scam case

Sushanta Talukdar

Cabinet to consider prosecution of Mahanta in the case

Guwahati: The Assam Government is contemplating to seek reopening of the case relating to the Rs. 400-crore Letter-of-Credit (LoC) scam in the Assam Veterinary Department and prosecution of the former Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, in the case by the Central Bureau of Investiation.

An official spokesman and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma told reporters here on Friday that the State cabinet would soon discuss the possibility of reopening the LoC case and may advise the Governor to grant sanction to the CBI to prosecute Mr. Mahanta.

The CBI had named several politicians including Mr. Mahanta in the scam. However, the then Assam Governor, Lt. Gen. (retd) S.K. Sinha, on February 6, 1998 however, declined to grant sanction to the CBI to prosecute Mr. Mahanta on the ground that there was no prima facie charge against the former Chief Minister.

Mr. Sharma and Education Minister Ripun Bora had called the press conference to refute allegations raised by Mr. Mahanta and traders belonging to the Assam Chambers of Commerce that the law and order situation has deteriorated in the State and warranted imposition of President's Rule.

Both Mr. Bora and Mr. Sharma said that Mr Mahanta had no moral right to demand imposition of President's Rule in the State. They alleged that law and order situation was worse in the State during Mr Mahanta's regime.

On December 29 last year the Court of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge here sentenced Rajen Bora, kingpin of the scam and three others to five years rigorous imprisonment in one of the 15 cases, trial for which began in 1996.

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