'Middle finger' poser on Addl SP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 10 2020: A Division Bench of High Court of Manipur today asked Additional SP, Manipur Police Headquarters, Thounaojam Brinda, whether she showed her "middle finger" to the Special Judge ND&PS when the bail hearing for alleged drug kingpin, ADC Chandel Lhukhosei Zou was underway on May 21 .

The Division Bench of the High Court, comprising of Justice Lunusukum Jamir and Justice Kh Nobin was hearing the contempt case against Th Brinda following award of bail to Lhukhosei Zou in a drug smuggling case.

The Court gave four weeks time to Th Brinda to file an affidavit defending her action and fixed June 17 for next hearing.

During the hearing today, the Court posed three questions on Th Brinda, whether she had threatened a witness in the Court of Special Judge ND&PS on May 21, whether she showed her "middle finger" to the Special Judge ND&PS on May 21 and whether she posted derogatory, defamatory and contemptuous post on her Facebook account against the Special Judge ND&PS in particular and against the Judiciary in general.

In reply to the questions, Thounaojam Brinda denied the first two charges but "admitted" to have posted derogatory, defamatory and contemptuous post on her Facebook account and prayed for some time to file an affidavit defending her actions with regard to all the three questions.

The Court then gave her four weeks time to file the affidavit.

Regarding the Court's earlier direction to the SP (CID Crime) to identify all those who had also posted derogatory remarks against the judiciary related to the contempt case and bail hearing of Lhukhosei Zou, the Court considered a letter of SP (CID Crime) containing details of 20 Facebook account holders who have been tentatively identified based on the publicly available information and photos posted on their Facebook accounts.

The Court observed that the 20 persons will be impleaded as party respondents in the criminal contempt case and notice served on them.

The Court also directed all 20 respondents to be personally present in the Court on June 17 at 10.30 am .

The High Court further directed SP Cyber Crime Police to continue collecting and verifying details of persons who keep on uploading posts scandalizing the judiciary in connection with the present case and submit report to the High Court.

Comment