Newmai News Network
Imphal | April 12
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Manipur sent Narengbam Samarjit, the self-proclaimed external-defence minister of ‘independent Manipur government in exile’, to police custody for 15 days on Monday.
He was sent to judicial custody till April 26. The court further fixed hearing for bail pleaded by Samarjit on April 17.
Manipur police had arranged tight security measures at Cheirap Court Complex, Imphal while producing him.
Samarjit was brought back to Imphal on March 29 after he was arrested from New Delhi on March 25.
He along with his associate Yambem Biren was arrested in connection with the formation of a “de-jure” Manipur Government in London after declaring independence from India in 2019.
After reaching Imphal, the NIA produced him before the Magistrate on March 29 who remanded him to police custody till March 31.
His arrest came barely two days after the NIA submitted charge-sheet against the two separatists and three others under Sections 120B and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13 and 17 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
In the charge-sheet, NIA claimed that Samarjit was the chairman and managing director of Salai Group of Companies and SMART Society and he and his associates, Elangbam Brojendro Singh and Akoijam Deepa Anand, were allegedly collecting huge amounts of money and cheating the public by taking deposits from them by offering 36% annual returns without any legal authority.
“These illegal funds were allegedly laundered by Samarjit through various companies,” the NIA added in the charge-sheet.
