Court clears Brinda's name in drug case
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 20 2020:
Special Judge ND&PS Thoubal A Noutuneshwari today discharged MPS officer Thounaojam Brinda, former OC NAB Inspector B Rishikesh Sharma and 6 others from a drug seizure case and framed charges against 6 other accused persons including one Sub-Inspector and a Constable of NAB for trial.
The Court was hearing a case pertaining to seizure of 9800 number of Worlds is Yours (WY) tablets by Lilong Police on March 11 last year.
The Judge announced the charge order after the hearing of the charges levelled against 14 persons in the chargesheet submitted by IO of the case.
The case was taken up by the Court on the basis of a suo moto case registered by Inspector A Ajit, OC Lilong Police Station against the 14 persons that on March 11 last year while the Lilong Police and Thoubal commando team were conducting patrolling at Chingkham Mamang Leikai, they found a four wheeler and two wheeler vehicle parked on the roadside.
The personnel arrested five occupants of the four wheeler on the spot along with 9800 number of WY (amphetamine) tablets weighing about 1.019 kg.
On verification, three of them were found to be VDF personnel identified as Md Ferosh, Md Najir Ahamed (22), Md Anish Khan (24).The other two were identified as Md Akhan (30) and Md Nawaj Khan (22) .
The case registered by the OC Lilong PS further stated that one of the arrested persons, Md Feroz Khan allegedly revealed that the seized WY tablets were handed over to him by Radhakishore Wahengbam, then Sub Inspector in Manipur Police Department attached with NAB Manipur and one unknown person.
Police then arrested Radhakishore from his residence on March 12 last year and he allegedly revealed that seized drugs were brought by Laishram Sanjoy, a Constable of Imphal East district Police attached to NAB Manipur and they were planning to sell the drugs.
On March 16 last year, SP Thoubal launched a special investigation and the case was re-endorsed to M Bishworjit, then SDPO Thoubal.
According to a statement of then OC NAB Inspector B Rishikesh Sharma, he allegedly disclosed that on March 12 last year, he was sent by then Additional SP Th Brinda to discharge SI Radhakishore Wahengbam and Constable Laishram Sanjoy of NAB from the case and met S Ibomcha SP Thoubal and then K Jayenta DIG Range II .
Statements of SP Thoubal and DIG Range II were also recorded and they corroborated with the statement of B Rishikesh Sharma.
The case further claimed that then Additional SP NAB Thounaojam Brinda called the 10 of the case and allegedly threatened to "obstruct" the progress of the investigation.
Attempts to take statement of Th Brinda in connection with the case were denied by her husband stating they were ready to face the case.
During the hearing, the defense counsel of Thounaojam Brinda submitted before the Court that the allegations against Brinda mentioned in the chargesheet "do not in any manner constituted any offence" and are "inherently improbable".
The defense counsel further submitted that the criminal proceeding initiated against her was instituted with an "ulterior motive to wreak personal vengeance on her with a view to harass, humiliate and tarnish the reputation of Th Brinda".
During the hearing, the Court observed that nothing was found on record about the complaint made in writing about the threat to the 10 by Th Brinda.
Further the Court observed that "there is no good ground for framing of charge against the accused persons Th Brinda and B Rishikesh Sharma".
The Court then discharged Th Brinda, B Rishikesh Sharma and six others from the liabilities of the case.
The Court then framed charges against six other accused Md Najir Ahmed, Md Anish Khan, Md Ferosh, Md Nawaj Khan, Radhakishore Wahengbam and Laishram Sanjoy Singh under the ND&PS Act for trial.
Comment
