Manipur police officer Thounaojam Brinda on Thursday informed the Manipur High Court that she gave the affidavit that sparked a huge controversy surrounding the CM and top police officers, to the chief editor and publisher of the Morning Bell daily only for the purpose of reading.
Brinda was responding to queries raised by the HC whether she had supplied the defective affidavit to the local daily that published the affidavit.
On a similar note, the chief editor and publisher of the Morning Bell responded that they got the affidavit, which is still lying on the defective list then, was received from Th Brinda.
DIG Manipur, Themthing Ngasangva had filed the criminal contempt case against the chief editor, publisher of the local daily for publishing an affidavit allegedly submitted by the former additional SP NAB Thounaojam Brinda in the High Court on July 13.
The case was heard in the court of division bench comprising Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice Kh Nobin. All the respondents of the case were present in the court in person along with their respective counsels.
The bench has allowed the chief editor, publisher and Th Brinda for three weeks’ time to file their respective affidavits and list the matter on August 17. On next hearing, all respondents are exempted from personal appearance.
While the contempt case was taken up for motion, the court directed the Registry of the court to verify whether Th Brinda had filed the affidavit. Accordingly, the registry had put up a report that Th Brinda filed an affidavit in a re-contempt case. However, as per the registry submitted to the HC on July 16, the affidavit was still in the defective list which later was cured on July 20 after the publication of the same. The Court was hearing the criminal contempt case against Brinda for allegedly flouting Court decorum and undermining the 'judicial system' following the bail awarded to alleged drug kingpin Lhukhosei Zou, former Chairman ADC Chandel.
The Court had taken up the suo moto criminal contempt case against Thounaojam Brinda following her 'unethical' post on Facebook, criticising Special Judge ND&PS Manipur on May 23.
