The state government had assured on Wednesday that Mahanta would be removed after NPC legislator James Sangma raised the issue of a seven-year-long fight by 72-year-old Tushar Nath Bhattacharjee, the original owner of the property where Mahanta currently resides.
Bhattacharjee, a retired employee of the public works department in Australia, and his two sisters had filed a case against Mahanta and his wife in the court of the East Khasi Hills district magistrate in April 2004 for the alleged illegal encroachment of 14,285 square feet of property in Lower Lachumiere.
He alleged that Mahanta had drawn up a fraudulent sale deed dated March 4, 1992 and had his signature forged on it by an imposter while he was away in Australia. He said Mahanta had put his name on the fraudulent document as a witness in the capacity of an advocate.
In March 2005, Bhattacharjee filed an FIR against Mahanta, but before he could be arrested, the additional advocate-general managed to procure an anticipatory bail.
However, Mahanta alleged that Bhattacharjee’s family had not honoured the property purchase agreement and had backtracked after receiving an advance payment. “We had paid over Rs 4 lakh to the family of Bhattacharjee out of the total Rs 12 lakh for the property, but they backtracked on June 8, 1992, the day the balance amount was supposed to be paid, although we were eager to pay the money,” he said.
Deputy chief minister Bindo Lanong, who is also the minister for law and order, recently told the Assembly that it was not wise for Mahanta to continue in office till the court cleared the case. He said the government had taken serious note of the matter.
Some NGOs had also apprised governor R.S. Mooshahary of the situation in February this year.
Official sources today said the government had tried to convince Mahanta to resign from the post and accordingly, he had tendered his resignation on Wednesday night. They said the government wanted the case to be over at the earliest and if Mahanta came out clean, he would be re-instated.