Session Judge, Imphal West, A Guneshwar Sharma, on Wednesday rejected pre-arrest bail and vacated interim bail allotted to the three accused who were involved in the alleged Saina Institute of Medical Science (SIMS) abducted and rape case.
The three teachers of SIMS, namely Sonia Yambem @ Yambem Nonibala Chanu, 29, daughter of Y Kulla Devi of Bamon Kampu Yambem Leikai, Imphal East district; Laishram Kunjarani Devi, 28, daughter of Laishram Ibopishak Singh of Top Khongmakhong, Imphal East district and SK Wajid Shah, 34, son of SK Kiramuddin of Hangul Makha Leikai, Thoubal district were granted interim bail on August 20 and August 24 respectively.
The court, however, directed the OC of the concerned PS to submit the details of the FIR registered against them.
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According to the FIR report, on August 16 at around 5 pm, the 24-year-old victim lodged a complaint stating that on August 14 at around 1 pm, teachers of her institute, Saina Institute of Medical Science, identified as Soma Yambem and Medam Kunjarani came to her residence, picked her up for a picnic at Andro Park. On reaching the park, she found Surjitkumar, Wajid and some other staff and colleagues of her institute. There, they had lunch and moved out from Andro at 5 pm by car with Sonia and Kunjarani driven by Wajid.
On the way to her residence, she was given an intoxicated (which she was unaware of) cold drink (Sprite) and Sonia, Madam Kunjarani and Teacher Wajid brought her to an unknown place. She felt drowsy and semi-conscious when her teachers (Sonia, Kunjarani) dropped her till the bed by holding her side by side at an unknown place. At around 9.30 pm, when she regained her senses, she was on the bed and Yumnam Surjitkumar was sitting beside her. Meanwhile, she asked him about her teachers (Sonia and Kunjarani) but he stated that they are eloped and they (Sonia and Kunjarani) have left.
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She opposed and told him to send her back home. Later, they again shifted her to an unknown place and there she was forcibly raped by Surjitkumar twice by locking the door without her consent which she could not fight back due to intoxication and it was around 10 pm. Next day, she learnt that the house belongs to teacher Wajid located at Sekmaijing. When the family of Surjitkumar arrived, she told them that Surjitkumar forcibly eloped and raped her against her consent but they didn't listen her words. She disclosed whatever they did to her parents when she returned home.
Counsel of two women teachers submitted that they have no role in the present FIR case and they simply attended a picnic organised by their employer. On the way to the picnic, they picked up the victim, a student of SIMS. After the picnic, they did not have any knowledge of the incident. It is stated that L Kunjarani Devi has a breastfeeding child and if she is confined to custody, the child will be affected. It is also submitted that they do not have any past criminal act and they may be released on anticipatory bail on such conditions as imposed by the court.
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Counsel for SK Wajid submitted that he is not named in the FIR and he has no specific role in the case. On that day, August 14, he was attending a meeting at Sekmaijin. It is prayed that he may be released on bail.
PP submitted that there are ample materials to establish the involvement of Sonia Yambem, Laishram Kunjarani, SK Wajid Shah along with main accused Surjit for conspiracy to abduct the victim to compel her marriage with Surjit. All these circumstances narrated above show the involvement of all these persons to compel her to elope with Surjit. Changing of vehicle while returning is a very important fact, the PP said and prayed that the bail application may be rejected as the investigation is at initial stage.
Counsel for the victim supported the submissions of PP for the state and submitted that the case is a blot on student-teacher relationship.
The court, after considering the rival submissions and the materials on record and the case diary, opined that the involvement of Sonia Yambem, Laishram Kunjarani and SK Wajid Shah in conspiracy to abduct the victim to compel her to marry with main accused Surjit is apparent. On the other hand, they did not share much information. Accordingly, bail application is rejected and interim bail is vacated, the court said.
