Gauhati High Court
N. Shanti Meiti @ Chinglemba Mangang @ ... vs The National Investigation Agency ... on 18 November, 2021
Author: Suman Shyam
Bench: Suman Shyam
Page No.# 1/3
GAHC010074252021
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : I.A.(Crl.)/236/2021
N. SHANTI MEITI @ CHINGLEMBA MANGANG @ TAKHELCHANGBAM
HEMANTA SINGH
S/O. LATE DANABIR SINGH, R/O. VILL. WAHENG LEIKAI, P.S. AND DIST.
IMPHAL WEST MANIPUR, PIN- 795001
VERSUS
THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (N.I.A.)
REP. BY SC, NIA
Advocate for the Petitioner : MR D K MISHRA
Advocate for the Respondent : SC, NIA
BEFORE
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUMAN SHYAM
HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. SEMA
ORDER
18.11.2021 (Suman Shyam, J) Heard Mr. D. K. Mishra, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. B. Prasad, learned counsel appearing for the applicant. We have also heard Mr. L. Satyanarayan, learned Standing Counsel, NIA, appearing for the respondent.
Page No.# 2/3 By filing this application, the applicant has approached this Court for the 3rd time seeking his release on bail during the pendency of the connected appeal against conviction.
Mr. Mishra, learned senior counsel, submits that the grounds urged on the earlier occasions are distinct and different from what has been projected in the present I.A. and therefore, for ends of justice, the bail prayer calls for a fresh consideration by this Court. The said submission has, however, been strongly opposed by Mr. L. Satyanarayan by submitting that these are repeated bail applications filed by the applicant on the same ground and therefore, the same deserves to be dismissed by this Court.
After hearing the submissions of learned counsel for both sides and on going through the materials on record, we are of the considered opinion that the proper course of action to be followed in this matter would be to grant an expeditious hearing of the pending appeal against conviction. This is more so because we find that the punishment awarded to the applicant in this case is 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and he has already served more than four years three months in prison.
In view of the above and considering the urgency expressed in the matter, we direct the Registry to expedite preparation of Paper Book in the connected appeal which would also cover the other related appeals preferred against the same judgment.
Let these matters be listed for orders as soon as the Paper Book is prepared or in the 1st week of January, 2022 whichever is earlier, for necessary orders with appropriate office note. Subject to preparation of Paper Book on or Page No.# 3/3 before the next date fixed, this Court would consider granting an early date of hearing in the appeals.
With the above observation, this I.A. stands disposed of.
JUDGE JUDGE Comparing Assistant