LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, May 2: Former Silli MLA Amit Mahto, who had lost his legislator status after a Ranchi court sentenced him to two-year imprisonment for assaulting a government official, has today become eligible to contest election.
The development took place after the Jharkhand High Court reduced his jail term to one year from two.
The order came from a division bench consisting of Justice S Chandrashekhar and Justice Ratnakar Bhengra who observed that there was no justification for giving Mahto maximum punishment in the case of assaulting circle officer of Sonahatu, Alok Kumar, during a public demonstration.
The court while reducing the jail term dismissed the petition of CO Kumar demanding enhancement in jail term.
The case arose in 2006 when the Sonahatu CO office was being gheraoed under the leadership of Mahto. CO Alok Kumar had sustained injuries while handling the protesting mob. A case of assault and obstruction in official work was registered in the Sonahatu police station on his statement.
High Court advocate Jaishankar Tiwari appeared on behalf of Mahto.
