I.O. of the case submitted in court that his video has severely affected the initiatives of the government and the Health Department in the curving of the Covid-19 pandemic as many people lost faith in the vaccination and the ongoing vaccination programmes.
TFM Desk
A court in Imphal West on Friday sent a 41-year-old man who was arrested to five-day police custody for spreading false information on ongoing vaccination programmes.
Accused Khoisnam Shantikumar Singh (41) S/o. Kh. Jilla Meitei of Lairenjam Awang (Mekola), Imphal West was arrested for allegedly uploading a video on Facebook and WhatsApp social media with an intention to spread false information and mislead the general public. He was charged under sections 505(1) (b)/505(2)/34 IPC & Section 3 of the Pandemic Disease Act 1897.
Shantikumar was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West Y Somorjit Singh through video conference (using Jitsi Meet) with a prayer for remanding the accused into police custody for five (five) days till 22/06/2021.
I.O. of the case Inspt N. Ingocha Singh submitted that the said video has severely affected the initiatives of the Government and the Health Department in the curving of the Covid-19 pandemic as many people lost faith in the vaccination and the ongoing vaccination programmes.
Praying the court to remand the accused into police custody for 5 (five) days to enable a thorough interrogation to dig out his motive and his associates from every angle, the IO submitted that his video has demoralised the frontline workers and will make them vulnerable to obstruction threat, intimidation and risk while performing vaccination.
Counsel of the accused person submitted that the offences leveled against the accused person is not that serious and hence prays for rejecting the remand prayer and to let him on bail.
After hearing and perusal of the facts and materials, the CJM said he is of the opinion that there exists prima-facie material suggesting that the accused person has committed the offence as alleged against him and sent him to police custody to “enable a smooth investigation of the case for the ends of justice.”