The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ascertain the status of trial against a Manipur resident accused of “waging war” against the nation and alleged links with Myanmar-based rebel groups.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing the plea of petitioner Moirangthem Anand Singh, who challenged the Delhi High Court’s April order refusing him bail. Singh was arrested in September 2023 in Manipur and later brought to Delhi for questioning in connection with an alleged transnational conspiracy.
During the hearing, Singh’s counsel argued that while other accused in the case had been released on bail, his client remained incarcerated despite charges not being framed even after the filing of the chargesheet. The bench, however, refused to consider bail at this stage, remarking, “May be. You see your role. Specific roles have been assigned. You are the owner of the vehicle wherein the people wearing camouflaged uniforms, having arms…”
The court then issued notice to the NIA and posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had rejected Singh’s bail plea, citing the volatile situation in Manipur, risk of flight, and possibility of influencing witnesses. The court observed that enlarging him on bail could deteriorate law and order in the state, where ethnic violence since May 2023 has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands.
The high court also held that the NIA had established a prima facie case against Singh, supported by material evidence of his alleged involvement. The agency claimed his arrest was linked to a conspiracy by Myanmar-based insurgent groups to exploit the Manipur unrest and wage war against India.
Singh was among five individuals arrested by Manipur Police in September 2023 for allegedly possessing weapons looted from a police armoury. He later appealed against the denial of bail by the special NIA court, maintaining that there was no evidence on record to substantiate allegations of transnational conspiracy.
