Court rejects bail for Yamthong Haokip
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 06 2018: NIA Special Court, Manipur, rejected the bail application filed by Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip but permitted him to get treated at the Cardio-Thoracic Centre, AIIMS,New Delhi.

The Court also directed SP Sajiwa Central Jail to make necessary arrangements to provide personnel for escorting the MLA to the said destination.

During the hearing, the counsel of the bail petitioner stated that petitioner is the wife of MLA Yamthong Haokip who was arrested by the NIA on the charge that he is involved in the case of 56 small arms which went missing from the arms kote at 2nd MR.The counsel submitted that on July 30, Yamthong Haokip was admitted to Sky Hospital and Research Centre following chest pain and other complications.

On August 1, he was transferred from Sky Hospital to Fortis Escort Heart Institute, New Delhi by an air ambulance and the next day, as well as on August 6, the MLA underwent an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) implantation surgery, which as per the consultant "doctor, was to prevent sudden cardiac arrest/death.

On August 18, Yamthong Haokip came back to Imphal and on being summoned by the NIA, he went to Imphal Camp NIA on August 23 and was arrested the next day, August 24.Soon after the arrest, he was taken to 1st Manipur Rifles hospital by NIA officials and after observing his fragile health condition, the MLA was produced before the Court and remanded to judicial custody under medical observation at JNIMS Security Ward.

The counsel continued that during the stay in JNIMS Security Ward, Yamthong began experiencing health complications due to which he was shifted from ICU repeatedly.

The attending doctors also expressed concern at the deteriorating health status of the MLA and even told the family members that it would be preferable to continue his medical treatment at Fortis Escort Heart Institute where his ICD implantation was done.

It was further submitted that the charge levelled against the MLA is totally baseless and the counsel claimed that Yamthong has been falsely implicated without an iota of evidence linking him with the charges.

During the 50 days of judicial custody at the timing of filing of the bail application, the NIA never bothered to meet or carry out any further interrogation of the MLA even once which suggest that he is no longer necessary to be remanded in judicial custody, the counsel reasoned.

On the other hand, the Special PP, NIA, submitted that when a search was carried out at the residence of MLA Yamthong Haokip at Mantripukri on July 30 as well as during examination of the accused and his staff, a 9 mm pistol (which happened to be one among the 56 arms which went missing from 2nd MR arms kote) was recovered.

It was also submitted that the accused made an attempt to conceal the 9 mm pistol to manipulate evidence.

The Special PP continued that on examination of the accused, it was revealed that he had given some pistols to David Hangsing, chairman of KRA and son in law of Saitu MLA, Ngamthang Haokip.

It was further submitted that during custodial interrogation of other cov-accused, it was revealed that Yamthong Haokip had received several consignments of 9 mm pistols and also that he had delivered the same to David Hangsing, Soson Haokip S/S chairman of UKLF and some other outfits.

Despite the order of the Court restricting the number of visitors at JNIMS Security Ward, Yamthong Haokip tried to meet officials of Saikul area and as such he had intention to interfere with the investigation and influence other witnesses during his judicial period at JNIMS, the Special PP alleged and continued that the MLA is already under medical supervision and is getting proper medical facility.

NIA has got sufficient materials on record to establish the involvement and vital role of the MLA in the case and hence his release would seriously jeopardize the case, the Special PP prayed.

After hearing the submissions and going through the records, the Court mentioned that at around 11 am today, it received the report submitted by the Special Medical Board yesterday and the report had advised that the patient (Yamthong) needed treatment and hospitalization at a sophisticated cardiac centre.

Under the circumstance and after taking into consideration the materials on record, the submissions of both counsels and the recommendation of the Special State Medical Board, the Court permitted MLA Yamthong Haokip to be treated at the Cardio-Thoracic Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi.

However, the Court rejected the bail application of the MLA and instead directed SP Sajiwa Central Jail to provide personnel for escorting the accused to the destination.

The Court also directed the NIA authority to approach Special Judge, NIA, New Delhi for making necessary arrangements for security wards and security personnel at AIIMS to transit the accused.

It also instructed the NIA to submit the list of permitted visitors/caretaker of the MLA as well as to submit a monthly progress report on his health.

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