HC upholds status quo on Mark Haokip case
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 22 2024:
The High Court of Manipur on Wednesday conducted hearing of the twin appeal filed by the state of Manipur against granting bail to Mark Thangmang Haokip and maintained status quo of the case till Thursday.
Hearing of the two criminal petitions hied by the state of Manipur as petitioner and Lhaineikim Lhouvum Kikim as respondent was conducted Wednesday in the court of justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui of the High Court of Manipur.
During the hearing, AG Lenin Hijam assisted by Dimal Kumar Haobam represented the petitioner while senior counsel Colin Gonsalves assisted by Os-bart Khaling represented the respondent through video conferencing.
As the respondent's counsel made a written submission of the respondent during the hearing, the court ordered for providing copy of the same to the petitioner's counsel which the latter sought time for thorough assessment of the written submission.
Though respondent's counsel Colin Gonsalves observed that no stay order should be decreed in view of present status of the case, the special court said that bail order is already in the possession of jail authority and ordered to resume hearing of the case on May 23.Notably, Mark Thangmang Haokip was arrested in May, 2022 from New Delhi on the charge of conspiracy to wage war against the nation and claiming himself to be president of a separatist outfit.
He was granted bail by the court of special judge (NIA) on March 27, 2023 with Rs 2 lakh PR bond and two sureties of same amount.
However, the Government of Manipur filed two applications against the bail order and prayed for cancelling the order or modify the same.
Mark Thangmang Haokip's wife Lhaineikim Lhouvum Kikim filed an application against Government of Manipur's prayer for cancellation or modification of thee bail order.
Hearing of Kikim's application was conducted at the court of special judge (NIA) on May 20 with the court ruling that the application filed by Government of Manipur was not maintainable.