SHILLONG: After the euphoria over the chargesheet filed against cabinet minister Deborah Marak and political activist Tennydard Marak almost six months ago by police for their alleged links with GNLA, the matter now is in limbo.
Police had field chargesheet against the duo on November 3 last year based on the FIR lodged by political rival of Deborah, Jonathone Sangma in February 2013 .
The FIR, however, did not name either Deborah or Tennydard, but pointed out the activities of GNLA during Assembly elections in Williamnagar. Police included their names only during the course of investigation. Both Deborah and Jonathone had secured bail on November 14 last.
The FIR lodged by Independent candidate Jonathone before the officer in charge of Williamnagar police station on February 16, 2013 said that an open and serious criminal intimidation was meted out to the voters of Williamnagar by way of dropping huge number of printed threats at different points in and around Willliamnagar Town on the night of February 15.
The complainant while furnishing the copies of the printed threats also said that the criminal action by the vested culprits is totally against the election code of conduct and added that it was against the holding of an election in a free, fair and peaceful manner
However, sources said that the Election Commission did not find anything wrong in the election process.
According to sources, it was on November 26 that the last hearing was held before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Williamnagar on a plea of the police to conduct the proceedings of case related to charge-sheet ‘in camera’. Police also wanted concealment of the names of the witnesses. The lawyers of Tennydard and Deborah had raised objection to this.
The Court, had reserved the judgment in this regard for December 1.
Sources said that till date, the Court is yet to give its verdict on the plea of the police to have ‘in camera’ proceedings.
Earlier, questions were raised on how independent and authentic were the witnesses in the police charge sheet case as the police merely based their findings on printed pamphlets and the statement of some witnesses.
Other than the seized printed pamphlets which had asked the voters not to vote for Independent candidate Jonathone and statements of those who submitted the pamphlets and other witnesses both before the police and magistrate , there are not many material evidences in the chargesheet filed against Deborah and Tennydard submitted by the Investigation Officer in the court, sources added.
Ironically, as per sources, both the former DGP PJP Hanaman and the Home Minister Roshan Warjri were in the dark when the chargesheet was submitted to the Court by the police.
