Thirteen days police remand for Narengbam Samarjit

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 31: Narengbam Samarjit, self proclaimed “External Affairs and Defence Minister of Manipur State Council” has been remanded to 13 days police custody. Moreover, eight of his supporters have also been arrested and sent to police custody.
Former chairman of Salai Group of Companies, Samarjit was brought to Imphal from Delhi on March 29 under high security measures.
On the same day, he was produced before the Court of a Duty Magistrate  and was remanded to NIA custody for 3-days.
Earlier, Narengbam Samarjit was detained by the Bureau of Immigration on March 25 at Delhi IGI Airport on arrival from London. The NIA (National Investigation Agency) had then arrested him and later brought him to Imphal on March 29 after getting a transit remand for 6 days from a Delhi Court.
It may be noted here that on October 29, 2019, Samarjit and Yambem Biren had held a press meet in London wherein they announced the formation of the “Manipur State Council”-- a Government in exile and its “separation” from India. While Yambem Biren was claimed to be the “Chief Minister of the Manipur State Council”, Samarjit was named as the “External Affairs and  Defence Minister”.
The NIA had then registered a case against the two.
Today, Samarjit was produced before the Court of the Special Judge  (NIA) Manipur, which remanded him to 13 days police custody.
Meanwhile, the eight persons who have been sent to police custody were arrested for “raising slogans promoting sedition, enmity among groups, obstruction to public servants” at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport on March 29. They had raised slogans supporting Narengbam Samarjit when he was brought at the airport. Singjamei Police had registered a case against them.
The eight persons, who have been identified as supporters of Narengbam Samarjit include his wife Narengbam (O) Tilotama Chanu (39).
The other 7 accused persons have been identified as Narengbam Biswajit (55) of Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, Narengbam Nonglen (25) of Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, Naoroibam David (32) of Naoremthong Khumanthem Leikai, Mayanglambam Tollenjou (55) of (present address) Lamboikhong-nangkhong Veterinary Leirak--(permanent address) Bamon Leikai, Hailakandi, Assam, Narengbam (O) Ranjana Devi (52) of Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, Narengbam Ningol Naoroi-bam ongbi Medhabati Devi (43) of Naoremthong Khu-manthem Leikai and Mutum Ningol Chongthem ongbi Chitramala Devi (43) of Sagolband Tera Amudon Akham Leikai. They were produced before the Duty Magistrate yesterday and remanded to 7 days police custody till April 5.
Meanwhile, the NIA investigation claimed that the Salai Group of companies was indulging in Ponzi scheme/money circulation scheme and due to unsustainability of the scheme, Narengbam Samarjit had fled to London with the money of the depositors and announced the “independence of Manipur”.
It also claimed that the SMART Society, through its Micro Finance Division collected money from people at the rate of 3 percent interest without any legal sanctity and three accused persons--vice-chairmen of Salai Group of Companies--Elangbam Brojendro, Na- rengbam Biswajit Singh and Akoijam Deepa Anand had utilised the “illegally” collected money of SMART Society in other Salai companies and thus laundered the money in conspiracy with Samarjit.