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The Manipur High Court on Thursday admitted the ‘letter petition’ filed by the wife of TFM journalist Kishorchandra Wangkhem and directed his release as he was under Illegal Detention by NSA, for a Facebook Post mocking the death of a BJP leader.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice KH Nobin Singh, also likely to consider plea for awarding compensation to Wangkhem.

The Statement was made subsequent to the death of Manipur BJP Chief Tikendra Singh due to COVID19. Journalist’s Facebook post said, “Cow dung and cow urine did not work. Groundless argument. Tomorrow I will eat fish."

On 19^th July the Supreme Court had ordered immediate release of Manipur Activist Leichobam Erendro, detained under NSA for his alleged Facebook Post.

A Division Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah, while hearing the matter had stated,

"We are of the view that the continued detention of the petitioner is in violation of Right to Life and personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the interim directions of this court, the petitioner be release forthwith, on satisfying bail bond of Rs 1000.

The Supreme Court had noted that, “Continued detention of the petitioner would amount to a violation of Right to Life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Journalist Wangkhem wife in her letter petition that her husband was arrested on May 13, 2021, by the Imphal Police Station for uploading a statement on Facebook  and was subsequently, an FIR was lodged being FIR No. 75(05)2021 IPS u/s 153-A/505(b)(2) IPC read with 295-A/503/504/34 IPC and arrested accordingly. 

She further added that, her husband was produced before the Duty Magistrate on May 14, 2021 and remanded to police custody till July 17, 2021. The Imphal West CJM granted bail on July 17.

However, during his police custody and soon after the bail was granted (after rejecting the remand prayer made by three police station simultaneously) by the concerned Chief Judicial magistrate, Imphal West, Manipur, he was slapped with National security Act along with Erendro Leichombam, who was also been arrested relating with a Facebook post of similar nature.

“My husband have never acted in any manner prejudicial to the security of the state and to the maintenance of public order,” his wife said in the plea.

[Case title- Elangbam Ranjita v. State of Manipur & Anr]