Chhattisgarh assembly speaker allows Cong MLA Lakhma to attend House after interim bail from SC in liquor scam, to follow ‘no speech’

RAIPUR: Congress MLA and former minister Kawasi Lakhma will be allowed to attend the Chhattisgarh assembly’s upcoming budget session after he secured interim bail from the supreme court, with Chhattisgarh assembly Speaker Raman Singh granting permission subject to strict conditions. While Lakhma will be allowed to discuss the issues pertaining to his Konta constituency, Speaker said Lakhma’s presence will be restricted to Assembly proceedings, and he will have to inform the Assembly secretary about his arrival and departure, he cannot visit his constituency/residential area during this period, has to follow a “no speech” condition about the case sub judice in court and confine his participation to session-related business only.Singh warned that any breach of the conditions would lead to immediate cancellation of the permission.The Speaker said the House sought Lakhma’s opinion on Feb 7 and processed the request after taking legal opinion from the advocate general. Lakhma was recently released on interim bail in connection with the alleged liquor scam, officials said.Singh said, "Lakhma may take part in discussions on other issues and raise matters related to his Konta constituency, but he will not speak on or answer or raise anything linked to the case pending against him. The other members have also been informed and, since the matter is in court, no discussion on it is expected in the House."The supreme court, while granting bail to the five-time tribal legislator from Bastar’s Konta constituency of tribal Bastar, has directed him to stay outside Chhattisgarh during the pendency of the investigation, but left it to the Speaker to decide whether he can participate in assembly proceedings.According to the excerpts from the SC order, "As regards the petitioner’s participation in the legislative assembly during the period when the investigation is going on and the court takes cognizance against him, an appropriate decision shall be taken by the learned Speaker of the state assembly. We do not express any opinion in relation thereto.”A prominent tribal face of the Congress in Bastar, Lakhma has been elected five times from Konta and is the only MLA in Chhattisgarh assembly who cannot read or write and was given a sensitive excise portfolio. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged multi-thousand-crore liquor scam and remained in judicial custody for over a year before being granted bail. He continues to be an undertrial, even as he remains an elected MLA with nearly three years left in his current term