Acquittal of Lhukhosei Zou : SC seeks State's reply before Apr 29
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 25 2022:
The Supreme Court has on Friday asked the State Government to respond on or before April 29 why it didn't go to the higher Court regarding acquittal of former Chandel ADC Chairman Lhukhosei Zou and six others in a multicrore drug haul case.
The direction was given after hearing a special leave petition on motion filed before the Court of Justice SK Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh by members of The 3.5 Collective namely; Maibam Jogesh, Geetchandra Mangang, Ramthing Hungyo and Babloo Loitongbam.
The petition prayed the apex Court to allow them appeal to the higher Court in connection with the judgment order of the ND&PS Court dated December 17, 2020 which acquitted former Chandel ADC chairman Lhukhosei Zou and six others in a multi-crore drug haul case.
The order passed by the Court on December 17, 2020 said that seven accused of the high profile drug seizure case that dated back to 2018 including Lhukhosei Zou had been acquitted from the case as the prosecution had totally failed to prove the charges levelled against them.
Notably, a combined team of Narcotic and Affairs of Border (NAB) and Imphal West district police arrested Lhukhosei Zou and others along with a huge quantity of heroin and WY tablets (worth Rs 27 crore) and Rs 57,18,000 in cash on June 19, 2018 .