Sikkim Police Jail Two CAP Spokespersons Over Forged Document

Gangtok: Sikkim Police arrested Mahesh Rai and Albert Gurung on the night of July 21. Both men serve as spokespersons for the Citizen Action Party. Officers took them into custody in Pakyong district following the issuance of non-bailable warrants by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Gangtok. The arrests link back to CID Police Station Case No. 03/2026.

The investigation began July 12. Charges include criminal conspiracy, forgery, and circulating false information under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case also includes Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. The probe started after the Sikkim Police Accounts Branch flagged the misuse of a July 9 WhatsApp message. That message covered routine salary bill adjustments. Investigators claim the pair accessed the text, altered it to include fake Finance Department statements, and posted it online to suggest the state government could not pay staff.

IGP Tenzing Loden Lepcha says the department followed all rules. "The arrests were carried out only after following due legal process," Lepcha stated. The CID issued two prior notices under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, but the men ignored the summons. Police tracked the suspects after they failed to show up for questioning.

Authorities are now reviewing digital evidence to find the source of the leak and track other potential suspects. Sikkim Police warned citizens to verify information before sharing it, as spreading doctored records triggers criminal penalties. The case remains under judicial scrutiny.