Bail plea of rape accused rejected
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2017: Special Judge of POCSO Imphal East today rej ected abail application filed by one of the accused in Phaknung gang rape case and instead remanded him to further judicial custody for 15 days till May 12 .

The accused has been identified as Thongam Sadananda (22) s/o (L) Shamu of Moirang Kampu.

He is the lone accused who is in judicial custody.

The other six accused were sent to Observation Home, Takyelpat after they were declared juveniles by the Court.

A large number of women folk and youth gathered at Uripok Cheirap Court complex on receipt of information that the accused will be produced before the Court.

At around 11 am, a team of Imphal East district police along with women police personnel produced the accused before the Court under FIR number 15 (4) 2017 Imphal East women police station under Section 376-D/120-B/ 363/34 of Indian Penal Code, Section 6 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Section 3(1) (XI) and Section 3 (2) (V) of SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocites) Act, 1989 .

After the accused was taken inside the Court, police personnel locked the main entrance gate of the Court which the irate women folk and youth protested.

Investigation Officer of the case submitted before the Court that during the course of investigation it came to light that nature of the crime attracted SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocites) Act, 1989 and as such Section 3(1) (XI) and Section 3 (2) (V) of the Act are added in the case ancf investigation has been taken up.

He stated that some new findings have come up and assured the Court that he will submit charge sheet of the case at the earliest.

Discussing the bail plea of the accused filed on April 25, the Court reminded that it had allowed four days police custody for the accused on April 25 on the ground of inter alia that the investigation could not be completed during the previous period of police remand as some seizure/recovery has tobe made'in connection with the case.

After hearing submissions from the IO, APP and on perusal of the remand prayer, the Court remanded the accused to further 15 days judicial custody to enable the IO to find out the truth of the case.

Defence counsel filed an application for remand objection with a prayer for releasing the accused on bail.

In his application, the accused stated that he was falsely implicated in the case and is studying BA final year at Ng Mani College.

He also stated that he is the youngest amongst the six siblings and that his father expired when he was 10 years old.

After considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, the Court rejected bail plea of the accused.

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