Shillong, May 15: High Court of Meghalaya has said no coercive action should be taken against the DGP LR Bishnoi based on the FIR filed by suspended police official GK Iangrai regarding the alleged misuse of vehicle registration number.
During the hearing of the matter on Wednesday, advocate A. Goyal, who appeared on behalf of the DGP (petitioner), pointed out ulterior motive by Iangrai.
The petitioner wanted the court to quash the FIR against the DGP.
“In view of the contentions raised, at the interim, it is provided that no coercive action be taken against the petitioner in Sadar P.S. FIR No. 141(5) 2024 under Section 409/467/471/120-B IPC read with Section 192 of M V Act till the returnable date”, the court said.
The matter will be heard after three weeks and the court also issued notice in this regard.
While for the petitioner/appellant, advocate Goyal appeared, on behalf of the government, additional advocate general ND. Chullai and goverment advocate R. Colney appeared.
However, nobody appeared for the respondent number 2 (Iangrai)
The court said the petitioner shall take steps for service of notice upon the respondent No.2 (Iangrai) within two days.
According to the court, the prime contention raised by the counsel appearing for the petitioner is that the FIR dated 09-05-2024 in Sadar P.S. FIR No. 141(5) 2024 has been lodged by the respondent No.2 with an ulterior motive to take revenge mainly due to the institution of some enquiry against him during the functioning of the petitioner as the DGP of the Meghalaya Police. It was also contended by the counsel for the petitioner that the allegations made in the FIR dated 09-05-2024 do not fulfil the ingredients of the sections of law under which the FIR has been registered.
The additional advocate general sought for grant of some time for obtaining instruction.
Investigation to continue : Conrad
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said investigation into the complaint against the DGP for allegedly using a fake number plate will continue even after his retirement.
“FIR has been lodged and the FIR has been registered, so the case will continue, the investigation will continue. The retirement does not affect that,” Sangma told reporters.
“As I said for us, it’s very simple that when a complaint comes every FIR is a proper case and as per the law, whatever needs to be done and as per the rules, what has to be done, will be followed, irrespective of who the person is,” he said.
On May 9, Iangrai, who was the former Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Meghalaya Police filed the FIR against DGP for alleged misuse and tampering of registration number plate of his vehicle.
The complaint came as the DGP is set to retire on May 19.
Stating that the law will take its own course, the chief minister said, “We have been very clear from day one with every situation of law that we have come across, that law is the same for all and therefore, the law will take its course.”
“Whatever the complaints have come in, the procedure has been followed, FIR has been registered and an investigation is on,” he added.
When asked whether such issue is a healthy trend within the police, the CM however said, “ No, obviously, number one point, I’m not saying that it is or it is not, I don’t know about that, I don’t want to comment about the fact that what the DG has said, it has personal level. I don’t want to comment on that at all.”
