3 remanded in bank theft case
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 05 2024: The Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West has remanded three persons including a senior Branch Manager of Bank of Baroda to 15 days judicial custody in a Rs 4 crore gold heist case.

The accused who have been sent to judicial custody have been identified as Khaidem Jackiechand (38) of Khurkhul Makha Leikai, Akoijam Renash Singh (20) of Ningombam Awang Leikai and Ganga Ningombam (41) of Kakching Makha Leikai.

Khaidem Jackiechand is the Joint Manager and Akoijam Renash is a casual staff of the bank at Manipur University.

Ganga Ningombam is the senior Branch Manager.

The theft occurred on September 12 at around 1.41 am.

Today, the three accused persons were produced before the Court by a team of Singjamei police today while the defense counsels of the accused persons filed remand objection along with prayers for releasing them on bail.

During the hearing today, the prosecutor submitted that the bank office has one entry and exit opening in the front secured by a steel rolling shutter, and Khaidem Jackiechand, Joint Manager and Renash Akoijam, a casual staff were the custodians of the keys.

"It cannot be ruled out that taking advantage of the curfew imposed during that period, the custodians of the said keys of the shutter may have opened the shutter, entered the bank and committed the offence in connivance with some of the bank staff," said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor then asserted that involvement of the accused persons either directly or indirectly in the commission of the offence or abetting the commission of the offence is highly likely.

The investigation is progressing and it requires further interrogation and examination of the accused persons and their associates, said the prosecutor.

On the other hand, the defence counsel of accused Ganga Ningombam submitted that she is the complainant of the case and the only liability she has is civil in nature for being negligent and violating the rules of the bank.

Further, she is a woman and mother of two minor children aged 3 and 5 years old.

There is no prima facie evidence for the alleged offences against the accused person, said defense counsel praying for bail.

The Court, after hearing both parties and on perusal of the material on record, observed that the gold was stolen without breaking or damaging the safe and it is clear that the safe was opened by using keys.

However, a bar on the window of the office room of the Bank Manager was cut in the dimension of 10.5 X 10 inches, which is a small opening for an adult to enter, observed the Court.

It further observed that one set of keys was in the custody of Khaidem Jackiechand while the other set of keys was in the unlocked drawer of Ganga Ningombam.

The Court also observed that accused Akoijam Renash had the key of the main shutter gate, and he visited the MU campus during the curfew period and entered the bank three times without informing senior officials of the bank with the keys he had.

There is prima facie that the act is well planned and there is conspiracy with the staff.

At the present stage of investigation, the Court is not inclined to grant bail to the accused persons, said Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The Magistrate denied bail to the accused persons and remanded them to judicial custody for 15 days.

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