Special judge National Investigation Agency (NIA) Manipur W Tonen Meitei on Monday remanded Narengbam Samarjit, self-proclaimed external-defence minister of the Manipur State Council (MSC), to 15 days’ judicial custody till April 26.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) produced Samarjit before the Special Court NIA with a prayer for committing him into judicial custody for a period of 15 days after temporal completion of custodial examination on the ground of conducting further investigations.
It is stated that at the nascent stage of the investigation, despite the filing of charge sheet against him prior to his arrest and some facts amassed during the police custody, verifications are required and the seriousness and gravity of the offences need to be taken into consideration, and the deep elements of large conspiracy involved in the case require to be unearthed. Taking these into consideration, NIA prayed for judicial remand so that the stream of the case is not hampered by reasons of his influential character in society.
Samarjit, who is also founder director of the Salai Group of Companies, moved an application praying for bail through his counsel. The court fixed April 17 to consider the matter of bail.
The court after examining the charge sheet, as well as a prayer made by NIA, remanded him into judicial custody.
On March 23, the NIA filed a charge sheet against Yamben Biren and Narengbam Samarjit and their associates Narengbam Biswajit Singh, Elangbam Brojendro Singh, and Akoijam Deepa Anand under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Further, a non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued against N Samarjit and Yambem Biren.
It is the second time that Samarjit moved a bail prayer before the court. While producing him before the Special Court NIA, Manipur on March 31, the counsel of the accused filed an application of releasing him on bail. The court had earlier fixed April 12 for considering the bail plea.
