HC orders continuation of trial in 2020 drug seizure case
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 03 2024: The Manipur High Court stayed the discharge order passed by Special Judge (ND&PS), Thoubal for release of persons accused in a drug smuggling case (No 12 of 2020), and instead issued directive for framing charges against the accused persons and continuation of the trial.

On Monday, a criminal petition filed by the chief secretary (home) and officer in-charge/ investigating officer of Thoubal police station, was heard in the court of High Court of Manipur Justice A Guneshwar Sharma.

The petition mentioned Mohammad Hussain alias Thoiba of Thoubal Wangkhem Muslim Mamang Leikai, Kwa Kwa Niang alias Abdul Zabar alias Ula Sin of Kwamu village (Rangoon), Md Ayub Khan of Yairipok Wangkhem Muslim Leikai, Md Abdul Razaq of Yairipok Tulihal near Aamwali Masjid, Jhutan Malakar alias Jhuthan Malakar of Tripura, Tanmoy Pal of Tripura, Biman Das of Tripura, Abdul Hashim of Tripura and Sheikh Muhammad Ahsaan of Phoudel Mayai Leikai as respondents.

As per case dossiers, on August 24, 2019 around 1.10am, a joint team of Thoubal district police and Phoudel Keirembi Youth Club members detained a Tata DI (MN 06 LA-2847) from the IVR in Phoudel Lairembi Mathak Leikai with 40,000 WY tablets, along with the driver Mohammad Hussain.

After questioning Hussain, Kwa Kwa Niang was arrested from Imphal International Airport with nine others involved in the drug smuggling case also rounded up in follow-up investigation.

However, during a hearing in the court of Special Judge (ND&PS) Thoubal, the court on January 20, 2021 discharged the accused persons from the case, against which a review petition was filed in the Manipur High Court.

After listening to the submissions, the court noted that there are evidence/proof supporting the charge that the accused persons committed offence under various sections of ND&PS and Section 468 of IPC.

Thus, it stayed the order passed by the Special Judge (ND&PS) and directed for framing of charges against the accused persons for continuation of the trial.

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