High Court defers anticipatory bail hearing of former CSs

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 11

The acting Chief Justice, N. Kotiswar, High Court of Manipur today adjourned the anticipatory bail hearing of three former chief secretaries (CSs) of the state till October 25, in connection with the case of multi-crore scam of Manipur Development Society (MDS).

With the state having submitted their bail objection report before the judge the petitioner’s counsels in today’s hearing reportedly sought that the report be furnished to the respective counsels of the CSs.

However, the prosecution raised objection to the plea made by the petitioner’s counsels.

Having heard both the argument of the counsels, the court fixed October 25 for hearing on the feasibility to furnish the objection reports to petitioner’s counsels.

The three former CSs, O. Nabakishore, PC. Lawmkunga and DS. Poonia, filed their petitions for anticipatory bail separately before the court of acting Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, in early part of September and the bail petitions were clubbed as one.

The bail application was filed after planning joint secretary, Th. Muhindro lodged an FIR on September 1, against the former chief minister, O. Ibobi, former MDS project director, Y. Ningthem, MDS administration officer, S Ranjit and also against the three former CSs to Imphal police station alleging huge financial irregularities of Rs. 185.79 crores of Manipur Development Society.

The bail petition of the CSs was heard on September 18 before the court of acting chief justice who fixed October 11 as the next date for the bail hearing following plea of the state to give more time to file bail objection report.

The state was represented by senior government advocate, RS. Reishang while Ahanthem Romen Kumar represented for PC. Lawmkunga, advocate Th. Ibohal for O. Nabakishore Singh and advocate Kh. Binoy Kumar for DS. Poonia.