IMPHAL, July 27: In a landmark judgement, a single bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising Justice N Kotiswar on Monday rejected the bail order granted to two drug peddlers by an order passed by Judge of Special Court (ND & PS), Manipur, M Ibohal Singh.
The duo was arrested along with 2, 480 kg of Brown Sugar by a combined police team. However, they were released on bail by an order passed by the Judge of the Special Court.
The two accused have been identified as Md Saroz Khan, 23 son of Md Samaru Rehman of Moijing Wangma Taba Khongmanung under Thoubal Police Station and Md Feroz Khan, 34 alias Fero son of Md Kashim Ali of Moijing Awang Leikai.
The duo along with 2, 480 kg of Brown Sugar were arrested by a combined team of Narcotic & Affairs of Border (NAB) Police Station and Thoubal District Police Commando led by Sub-Inspector L Dhanabir Singh from Chajing Lamkhai on the northern side of Lilong Bridge on April 27, 2014 at around 3.30 pm.
A case was registered by NAB PS against the two drug peddlers under FIR No 31 (4) 2014 NAB PS U/S 21 (C)/29/60 (3) ND & PS Act.
They were carrying the drugs in a ten-wheeler truck bearing registration number AS-01EC-6416 heading from Moreh towards Imphal. The combined team found cash amount of Rs 50000, one Nokia handset and Airtel sim card from the possession of Md Feroz Khan and cash amount of Rs1 lakh, one Lemon handset and Airtel sim card from the possession of Md Saroz Khan.
The police team also arrested driver and handymen who were accompanying the two drug peddlers in the truck. They are identified as Md Firoz Khan, 22 alias Thoiba son of Md Hayed Ali of Lilong Nungei Awang Leikai; Nongthombam Ronelkumar, 32 alias Inao son of N Rajen Singh of Thoubal Kiyam Siphai Babubazar (driver) and Nongthombam Bishworjit Singh, 25 alias Lumba son of N Rajen Singh of Thoubal Kiyam Siphai Babubazar.
All the five arrested were remanded to police custody till May 5, 2014 and further remanded to judicial custody.
Though the driver and handymen were released on bail, the two drug peddlers were kept under judicial custody.
The duo filed a petition each in the Special Court (ND & PS) Manipur pleading for release on bail. However, the bail petitions were rejected by a ruling passed by Judge of the court BK Sharma on July 26, 2014.
The two accused were released on bail by an order passed by Judge of the court M Ibohal Singh on September 3, 2014 after the duo again filed petitions in the court.
Challenging the bail order, the State represented by Senior Advocate RS Reisang filed Criminal Revision Petition No 19 of 2014 and No 20 of 2014 against the two accused in the High Court of Manipur. The two accused were represented by Advocate N Mahendra.
Along with conducting the last hearing of the two cases today, a single bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising Justice N Kotiswar cancelled the bail order granted to the two accused by an order of the Special Court (ND & PS), Manipur.