Court grants bail to SDPO murder accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2024: A Court today ordered release of the prime accused persons in the killing of Moreh SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar on default bail on completion of statutory period after the concerned Moreh police station failed to submit charge sheet in connection with a FIR case registered at Moreh police station.

The order was passed after hearing applications filed by the wives of accused Philip Khaikholal Khongsai (43) s/o (late) Marcus Khongsai of New Moreh, Ward No 8 and Hemkholal Mate (35) s/o (late) Otkholun Mate of K Moulsang village, Moreh on completion of the statutory period.

Defence counsels submitted that the accused persons were arrested on 15/01/2024, produced before a Magistrate on 16/01/2024 and thereafter sent to custody.

The counsels also submitted that the statutory period of the accused was completed on 13/07/2024 .

Pointing out that the charge sheet is yet to be submitted, the defence counsels for releasing the accused persons on bail.

The Court, after perusing the material on record, ordered release of the accused persons on bail on furnishing PR bonds of Rs.One lakh each with two sureties (Government employees) each of the like amount and on the conditions that the accused persons shall not abscond but present themselves before the IO of the case as and when summoned or before the Court on every date fixed.

The accused persons shall not influence prosecution witness(es); and they shall not leave the State without prior permission of the Court, the order mentioned.

Notably Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate are among nine persons against whom the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Imphal Branch had submitted charge sheet on April 4, 2024 in connection with the killing of then SDPO, Moreh Chingtham Anandkumar on October 31, 2023 while inspecting a helipad at Eastern Shine School ground.

The case against nine of them is presently in the stage of charge hearing before the court of Special Court, NIA Manipur.

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