TURA : Former legislator John Leslee K Sangma has lodged a formal complaint before the Superintendent of Police of West Garo Hills alleging that Mahendraganj MLA Sanjay A Sangma and his daughter were illegally operating a wine store in Tura under another individual’s licence, in alleged violation of excise laws.
The complaint has now drawn political attention in Garo Hills as it raises questions surrounding liquor licence ownership, alleged proxy operations and possible violations of the Excise Act.
According to the complaint, the wine store licence was originally issued in the name of Ruparam A Sangma, who passed away in October 2025. Following his death, permission was reportedly granted to his widow, Silse Marak, allowing her to continue operating the business temporarily until the licence could formally be transferred to her name.
However, John Leslee alleged that the actual operation and control of the wine store remained in the hands of Mahendraganj MLA Sanjay A Sangma and his daughter, Dolse G Momin. The former MLA claimed that both Sanjay and Dolse not only owned the building where the liquor outlet functions but also “actively managed, operated and profited” from the business despite the licence remaining under another individual’s name.
He further alleged that the arrangement effectively amounted to a proxy ownership structure and described it as a “clear violation” of excise regulations governing liquor licences in the state.
The controversy also resurfaced against the backdrop of the March violence in Garo Hills linked to tensions over voting by non-tribals during the GHADC elections. During the unrest, the wine store in question and another outlet were reportedly looted by rioters.
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An FIR was later filed by Dolse G Momin alleging that liquor worth nearly Rs 70 to 80 lakh had been stolen during the incident. John Leslee argued that the FIR itself raises further questions regarding the role allegedly played by the MLA’s family in the operation of the wine business.
Apart from the ownership allegations, the complaint also questioned the location of the liquor outlet. The former MLA alleged that the wine store was functioning within prohibited distance limits from a highway, which he claimed violates existing excise norms requiring such establishments to remain at least 50 metres away from highways.
The complaint has urged authorities to examine whether the licence conditions, ownership structure and operational arrangements violate provisions of the Excise Act and related regulations.
As of filing this report, there has been no official response from Mahendraganj MLA Sanjay A Sangma or his daughter regarding the allegations raised in the complaint.
