Former Sikkim chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari was sent to jail after he surrendered before the high court in connection with a corruption case but was shifted to a hospital a few hours later due to cardiac complications.
He surrendered before Justice S P Wangdi on Wednesday, two days after the high court upheld his conviction in the lower court but commuted his punishment from six months’ simple imprisonment to one month.
He was convicted by the trial court on October 25, 2008, in a Prevention of Corruption Act case relating to rural water supply scheme undertaken during his first term as Chief Minister between 1979 and 1984.
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Mr. Bhandari, who was Chief Minister thrice, was taken to Rongyek jail from the high court, but after he complained of chest pain, he was taken to a hospital where he was admitted.
He told media persons at the court that he was ready to go to jail for the people of Sikkim. He said he would return to politics after serving his prison term.