Court directs CBI to appoint counsel
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 31 2018:
Special Court NDPS Manipur has directed SP, CBI, Kolkata today, to extend the engagement of special counsel of CBI or to make alternative arrangement for engagement of another counsel for the CBI for disposal of three drug cases including the high profile Pallel drug case involving the then Defence PRO Ajay Chowdhary, the airport drug case as well as another drug case of the CBI.
During the hearing today, the accused of the Pallel drug case, Lunkhohao Haokip, Seikholen Haokip, RK Babloo, Utpal Debnath and Madhav Das, were present in person before the Court while other accused individuals including Ajay Chowdhary were represented by their respective counsels.
During the hearing, the special counsel of the CBI, P Ibomcha, submitted that his term of engagement as special counsel, expired on January 14 and as such it would not be fair/proper to conduct the case on behalf of the CBI till the his engagement is extended.
He further prayed for time charge hearing, preferably in the last part of February.
The Court considered the submission of the CBI counsel and fixed February 19 for the charge hearing of the case.
The Court also informed the SP, CBI Kolkata, to take up steps for extension of the engagement of the special counsel or to make alternative arrangement for engagement of another counsel for swift disposal of the three drug cases.