NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY Vs. ZINGSHONGAM MUINAO

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. D. Bharadwaj, learned PP, NIA for the appellant. We have also heard Mr. A. Zhimomi, learned counsel for the respondent/accused.

(2.) This is an appeal under Sec. 21 (4) of the NIA Act, 2008 which has been preferred by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Imphal, Manipur assailing the bail order dtd. 13/6/2022 passed by the learned Special Judge NIA court, Dimapur, Nagaland in I.A.(Bail) No.41 of 2022 arising out of NIA case No.RC02/2020/NIA-GUW by which the learned Special Judge, NIA court has enlarged the respondent accused Zingshongam Muinao (A-4) on bail who was arrested on 5/7/2020 in connection with RC02/2020/NIA-GUW.

(3.) The brief fact of the appellant's case leading to the filing of this present appeal is that on 4/7/2020 an input was received regarding financial transactions being diverted from Government Funds and projects (PMGSY, NREGA etc.) and other construction works going on in the states of Manipur and Nagaland by sympathizers and over ground workers of NSCN-IM under the directions of SS Col Rayilung Nsarangbe of NSCN-IM. Based on the information, a joint operation was launched by Assam Rifles with the local police and seized Rs.11,00,000.00 from one vehicle bearing Registration No NL-02L-5334. The seized amount was collected by accused persons Zingshongam Muinao and Zingring Mung from one Rabi Pame on the directions of SS Col Rayilung Nsarangbe of NSCN-IM. In the follow up operation, Rabi Pame was arrested from his residence and one Vimal Kumar Jain was arrested from general area near GS road, Dimapur and Rs.15,00,000.00 was recovered from his possession. The residential premises of accused SS Col Rayilung Nsarangbe of NSCN-IM was searched and Rs.1,32, 72,800.00 along with arms, ammunitions, explosives, extortion slips of NSCN-IM, several incriminating documents and a fake passport in the name of Pele Zeme were recovered. The total cash recovered in the entire operation amounted to Rs.1,58,72,800.00.