Court grants bail to former minister

Shillong, May 19 (UNI) A lower court has granted bail to former Meghalaya minister in-charge of Community and Rural Development Beckstar K Sangma, accused in misappropriation of public fund under the Rural Housing and Habitat Development programme.

The court granted bail after the former Congress minister surrendered before the court recently, official sources said here today.

Mr Sangma, had to quit the Lapang-led ministry in May last year after former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma unearthed the housing scam, involving the former minister. He had siphoned off about Rs 50 lakh in the name of 110 'non existent' beneficiaries. UNI