Defected Manipur BJP MLA Subhaschandra has filed a complaint at the Patsoi police station, alleging that two Congress MLAs, K Meghachandra and Th Lokeshwar along with HVS managing director Huidrom Vikramjit had ‘forcefully confined’ him at a place in Patsoi from June 17 till June 23.
Session Judge, Imphal on Wednesday granted interim anticipatory bail to MLA Meghachandra, MLA Lokeshwar and Huidrom Vikramjit till July 16.
The court gave anticipatory bail to the three with the condition that in the event of arrest in connection with the FIR, they would be released on interim bail on the execution of PR bond of Rs 1 lakh with one surety of like amount and with condition that they will cooperate with the investigation.
The court has fixed July 16 for the next hearing and directed the officer in-charge of Patsoi PS to submit a detailed report on or before the next date of hearing.
In the complaint, Subhaschandra, from Naoriya Pakhanglakpa assembly constituency, has alleged them (the two Congress MLAs and HVS managing director) that during confinement he was “physically and mentally tortured”. He was compelled to sign a resignation letter under extreme duress, he claimed. He further alleged that he was pushed and slapped on the face by the MLAs and the managing directors.
However, the counsel the congress MLAs submitted that the allegations leveled at his clients were “totally fabricated”.
The counsel asserted that on June 17, Soibam Subhaschandra along with two other BJP MLAs, Samuel Jendai and TT Haokip joined the camp of the Congress party at the house of Huidrom Vikramjit at Patsoi after resigning from the primary membership of BJP and tendering their resignation as MLAs. They were enrolled as members of Indian National Congress.
The counsel claimed that Subashchandra joined the camp of the Congress party on his own will and the two MLAs and managing director have no connection with Subhaschandra’s resignation.
The anticipatory bail was applied under section 438 in connection with an FIR filed against them by former MLA Subhaschandra.
Subhaschandra is one of the three MLAs who defected from the BJP and joined the Congress party during the recent political crisis that gripped the state. Subhaschandra and two turncoats were later disqualified by the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker’s tribunal under the anti-defection law.
