Charges framed against former Chief Minister

Gangtok, Nov 20 (UNI) A lower court here today framed charges against former Sikkim Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, in response to a defamation and forgery petition filed by his former counterpart B B Gooroong.

East Sikkim Judicial Magistrate Prajwal Khatiwada listed the hearing for February 15, 2008 when the witness will be examined.

The petition had been filed by Mr Gooroong on August nine this year, claiming that letters published in the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) booklet bearing his signature was false and forged by Mr Bhandari.

''Mr Bhandari, presently state Congress president, and five other party members have forged my signature with an intention to defame and tarnish my image,'' Mr Gooroong reiterated.

UNI