SHILLONG: Former MLA Stanlywiss Rymbai, who was arrested on January 25 in connection with a multi-crore land scam, was released on bail on Monday.
The Court of District and Sessions Judge headed by E. Kharumnuid granted bail to the ailing MLA who will remain in hospital.
Rymbai’s lawyer V.G.K Kynta said the arrest, which came four years after the case was registered on November 12, 2012, was illegal.
Stating that Rymbai’s arrest after four years on January 24 raised a question as to whether there is any land scam, Kynta said, “In all these years what has the police department done? Why didn’t they summon him back then as he held the power of attorney?”
He said that Rymbai’s liberty was restrained and based on this ground, he should be granted bail.
“His son was forced to sign the memo of arrest. The police department’s request for custody was rejected by the Court after examining relevant documents,” he added.
The police took the former MLA to Civil Hospital jail cell on January 25 on account of his ill health.
According to the lawyer, there has been violation of human rights by the police department, especially by the CID headed by Claudia Lyngwa. CID official P.S. Paul Choudhury was the investigating officer.
Earlier, the family members were not allowed to meet Rymbai even after permission was granted by the East Khasi Hills SP.
The lawyer informed that police interrogated Rymbai at least five times despite the fact that he was in judicial custody. Kynta met him in hospital on January 31.
“I asked him how many times (he was interrogated) and he was unable to remember but he showed five fingers. It was over five times that the IO interrogated him that day and to put pressure on him in giving a confession… Police cannot interrogate him as he is lodged in the Civil Hospital Jail cell due to ill-health. Secondly, he is not under police custody and police should have sought court’s permission for interrogation,” he said.
“The complaint regarding the land acquisition was made in the 2009 whereas he was entrusted as power of attorney holder in 2010 while he was still an MLA after a request was made by the Dorbar Shnong of Umsaw Khwan who sought his assistance,” he said.
He added that Rymbai was quick to help them in connection with land acquisition proceeding. “The land acquisition proceeding took shape only in 2011.”
Questioning the stand of the Soil and Water Conservation department from 2009-2011, he said the department did not come forward to claim the land despite the PAC’s claim that it was under the department’s possession. He asserted that the land belonged to Umsawkhwan village.
The High Court ordered that the acquisition proceeding under the Land Acquisition Act cannot be de-requisitioned.
Stating that Rymbai was falsely accused, he said, “It the function of the judiciary to monitor the police investigation and seek report from time to time.”
Alleging political vendetta, Kynta said, “One of the retired Forest Department officers and another officer pursued the case. These officers who are witch-hunting are the ones who are involved in the land acquisition proceeding.”
“One of the officers ordered to recall the money and file the case,” he said, adding that at the behest of the state government officer, the police investigation took place.
Kynta said the Government took the land worth more than Rs 100 crore for just Rs 10 crore and that too paid only Rs 10 crore after which the Dorbar had to run from pillar to post to get the Rs 2 crore.
He asserted that people not involved in the case have to apply an anticipatory bail.
