Tennydard out with a rider
From Cosmos Sangma
Williamnagar: Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Deborah Ch Marak, summoned in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Williamnagar in connection with a charge sheet filed by the district police for allegedly using Garo militants during the 2013 assembly elections campaign, was granted bail on Friday afternoon.
The former Deputy Chief Minister was granted bail by Chief Judicial Magistrate, F. Silkam Sangma, on a bail surety amount of Rs.1 lakh after the government public prosecutor decided against raising objection to the granting of bail.
The next hearing on the case has been slated for November 26.
However, in a separate judicial case that was heard on the same day, Tennydard Marak, the man who has been fighting single-handedly against the ‘controversial’ tribal status of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, and was named by the police as one of the accused in the Deborah-GNLA nexus came close to getting arrested for allegedly violating court proceedings and rules before bail was granted to him.
Tennydard had appeared before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in the morning but disappeared before the proceedings got over.
The Magistrate, F. Silkam Sangma, had directed that the two accused in the case- Deborah and Tennydard – remain within the court premises before the verdict was pronounced.
However, Tennydard was to be found nowhere prompting the police to launch a manhunt for him with a possible arrest after the Chief Judicial Magistrate failed to get his presence during the proceedings in the daytime.
Tennydard ultimately surfaced at 2:30pm and was given a dressing down by the Magistrate before the court granted him bail. He has been ordered not to leave the jurisdiction of the court in East Garo Hills District. He was also granted bail on a bond of Rs.1 lakh.
Advocate pulled up for missing accused in court
Tennydard Marak, the man fighting to challenge Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s tribal status has been pulled up for missing in court on Friday.
Marak was warned to abide by the rules and laws after he was found missing from the court premises from 11:30am to 2:30pm during the hearing of the cases.
The elusive activist had arrived to attend the summons given by the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate but disappeared shortly after despite the magistrate directing him to remain within the court premises until the bail order was passed.
His lawyer, Sabina Sangma, was pulled up by the court for allegedly failing to apprise him of the directive by the court that clearly stated that he ought to remain in the premises.
Later, when Marak approached the court for bail it was strongly objected by the Assistant Public Prosector E.N. Marak who cited previous failures to appear before the court by the accused.
Marak has been asked to attend the court on November 26 for hearing in a case of contempt of court, it is learnt.