Court acquits
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 24 2014:
The Court of the Sessions Judge, Manipur East has acquitted Editor of The Freedom, Manipur RK Ranendrajit from the sedition charges filed against him by Imphal Police station for his editorial 'Eclipse Month' published on September 12, 1997 .
After hearing the arguments and counter arguments, Sessions Judge, Manipur East A Guneshwar Sharma observed that no criminal intention of the accused RK Ranendrajit can be found for committing the offence of sedition against the State of Manipur or Union of India.
The Court remarked that a prima facie case for the offence of sedition cannot be established, as any instances of causing of disaffection, hatred and contempt against the Government are not found on record of the case.
It is also obvious that Section 124-A IPC cannot be attracted to the opinion expressed by the accused in the particular editorial column of the local English daily The Freedom Manipur as he was making a fair criticism of the Government policy and action.
Coupled with this, the mandatory sanction from the competent authority under Section 196(1) CrPC was not obtained for proceeding against the accused for the offence punishable under Section 124-A IPC.
The Court further ordered that accused RK Ranendrajit be discharged from the accusation of committing the offence of sedition punishable under Section 124-A IPC.
Advocates Kh Mani, Y Devadutta, Ibetombi and India appeared for Ranendrajit while PP (D) Kh Bimola appeared on behalf of the State.