IMPHAL, Jul 29: A Division Bench of High Court of Manipur comprising Justice N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin today ruled that the criminal petition case filed by former JCILPS convenor Khomdram Ratan is ‘maintainable’.
It may be mentioned that the Court has been examining whether the criminal petition case is maintainable or not since it was filed on June 27 last.
The judgment of the case was reserved till today after the Court examined a three-hour long argument on July 26 last.
Announcing the judgment today, the Court declared that the petition would be heard soon.
A similar petition filed by Ratan’s wife had been dismissed by the Court citing lack of merit before the former JCILPS convenor filed the criminal petition case against announcing him as a wanted man.
Respondents of the Ratan’s criminal petition are Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DGP Manipur, Imphal West SP, Manipur Police PRO and Singjamei police station OC.
The hearing of the petition was earlier held at a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice RR Prasad and Justice S Serto before it was transferred to the Division Bench of Justice N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin.
Manipur police through a statement issued by its PRO announced Ratan as a wanted man on June 9 after a photograph showing the former JCILPS covenor receiving oath from UNLF leader Nongyai by holding the flag of the banned outfit went viral on the social media.
Few days later, Ratan’s SBI account was frozen.
Rishikanta case: Herojit appears : Suspended Head Constable Thounaojam Herojit today appeared before the Court at the Sessions trial of the sensational killing case of Imphal Free Press junior sub-editor Konsam Rishikanta of Ningomthong Sairom Leirak.
During today’s trial, the Court examined the statements of Rishikanta’s friend Paonam Bangkim and the scribe’s sister.
Later, the Court declared that the Sessions trial would continue further on August 26.
The State Government handed over the case to CBI in January 2009.
CBI later submitted charge sheets along with the names of 49 prosecution witnesses at the erstwhile Sessions Court, Manipur West.
The trial of the case began at the same Court in 2013 under Sessions trial case number 53 of 2013.
Konsam Rishikanta s/o K Budhichandra of Ningomthong Sairom Leirak was found dead in the evening of November 18, 2008 at Langol with bullet injury marks on his throat and abdomen.
His hands were found tied from behind and his mouth gagged with a piece of cloth.
Decrying the incident, All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) suspended publication of newspapers for 12 days from November 20, 2008.
