HILLONG: A major controversy has surfaced over the illegal detention of the FKJGP leader Reginald Ronald Thabah.
FKJGP leader legal counsel Sunil Agarwal while moving a bail petition before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Balram Joshi on Thursday has pleaded that Thabah was under illegal detention since December 20 after the MPDA order was revoked.
“He (Thabah) was supposed to be shifted to the Shillong District Jail from Williamnagar immediately after the revoke order on the MPDA was issued. It is clearly stated that the revoke order would be applicable with immediate effect,” Agarwal argued while moving the bail petition.
Thabah, booked under MPDA, was later released from detention on the advice of the Governor after he had appeared before the Advisory Board which is dealing with the MPDA related cases.
He said that he (Thabah) was supposed to be shifted to the Shillong District Jail on December 20.
“But he was brought to Shillong District Jail only January 7 last. Not only this, the jail authorities were supposed to produce Thabah to the court immediately after he was shifted.”
“But this was also not done. They have produced him only on January 15,” the legal counsel said.
He also said that the Superintendent (Jail) should hold accountable for this lapses even as stating that the FKJGP leader was under illegal detention for 25 days.
“I strongly feel that he (Thabah) should be compensated for the lapses on the part of the authorities,” Agarwal said.
The legal counsel further said that the FKJGP deserves to be granted bail on the ground of his illegal detention and also on the failure of the police to file a charge sheet even after 90 days of his arrest.
While refusing to grant bail, the CJM has sought the case diary of Thabah.
Later, Agarwal said that he plans to move before the Meghalaya High Court against his illegal detention by the police.
Mentionably, Thabah was booked in a total number of 66 cases by the police.