Village chief held drug case gets default bail
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 08 2023: Lanchah village (Kamjong district) chief Mangneikam Haokip (45), son of Tongkhojang Haokip, who was arrested under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (ND&PS) Act, 1985 was granted bail on Friday by Special Judge (NDPS) Ukhrul under bail bond of Rs 1 lakh, as per the order of High Court of Manipur issued on Thursday.

Mangneikam was arrested for poppy cultivation on February 6 based on FIR filed against him at Chassad police station under Section 18(b) and 46 of ND&PS Act, 1985 .

Mangneikam had applied for a pre-arrest bail at the Court of Special Judge (NDPS) Ukhrul, which approved interim protection from arrest on November 22, 2022 .

Later, the Court vacated the interim bail of Mangneikam on February 6 and accepted the police application and subsequently, he was arrested on the same day and remanded to police custody and later to judicial custody on February 10.Mangneikam then filed a plea in the High Court of Manipur, which on Thursday said that he is eligible for release under default of bail as the police had failed to submit case related documents and chargesheet to the Court within the specified period as well as for its application for extending the investigation time.

The HC of Manipur order also ordered Mangneikam to cooperate in the investigation, not to influence witnesses of the case and to meet the investigating officers whenever summoned.

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