Assam Government Official Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

A former Assam government official was sentenced to four years in prison with a fine imposed of Rs 10 lakh for the charge of acquiring more property in Guwahati on Wednesday, officials said.

Sanghamitra Bharali, a former Assistant language officer of the Assam state assembly, was sentenced to four years imprisonment by the special court judge Mazed Ali in the case (No : 1/2012 u/s 13(2) PC act) registered by the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau.

During the trial, the court found that Sanghamitra had drawn salaries of Rs 607586 during her 11 years of service, covering the period from 1991 to 2002, but she gathered property worth Rs 5306697.

In the judgement, the court said Sanghamitra Bharali had taken advantage of her controversial relationship with the former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.

The court has directed the Chief Secretary of Assam state government to confiscate possession of the flat at the Godabari complex in Mumbai which was reportedly purchased by Sanghamitra Bharali.

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.