Court rejects petition to exclude accused in murder case
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 25 2023:
The court of sessions judge, Thoubal has dismissed a petition filed by RTI activist Wahengbam Joykumar, praying for discharging him from the trial case in connection with the murder of Laishram Rameshwar of Thoubal Kshetrileikai Ningombam Leirak.
Wahengbam Joykumar is the third accused in the murder trial.
In his appeal, the petitioner's counsel submitted that neither the witnesses spoke any words incriminating the petitioner/accused (no 3) nor the documents submitted along with the charge sheet substantiated any charge against him.
There is no material at all to substantiate the allegation against him.
The counsel also cited some earlier judgments of the Supreme Court while praying for discharging him from the trial.
On the other hand, the additional public prosecutor submitted that there are evidences of phone communication between the main accused and the petitioner after committing the offence.
The main accused Ayekpam Keshorjit along with the petitioner (accused no 3 in the murder trial) had entered into a criminal conspiracy to teach the deceased Laishram Rameshwor a lesson to refrain him from giving any obstruction to their activities in future, which is a solid plan to target the deceased.
The APP also submitted that after the commission of the offence, the petitioner also assured the main accused that he will handle the situation and advised the main accused to surrender with a concocted story of self-defence.
After hearing the submission of both the counsel of the petitioner and the additional PP, and upon perusal of the relevant documents, the court observed that prima facie involvement of petitioner/ accused no.3 in commission of the offence is made out by the prosecution, and dismissed the petition as devoid of merit.