Manipur Transnational Conspiracy Case: M. Anand Singh Withdraws Bail Plea from NIA Court

Delhi Special NIA court on Wednesday informed that the bail application of the accused, Moirangthem Anand Singh, who was arrested in connection with the Manipur Transnational Conspiracy case, has been withdrawn.

The lawyers of Moirangthem Anand Singh informed Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta that the bail application was withdrawn without pressing or pursuing it on its merits.

The NIA had recently opposed the bail plea, citing Moirangthem Anand Singh’s association with a proscribed organization and his arrest with sophisticated arms and ammunition in an area affected by ongoing strife. The NIA argued that releasing the accused on bail would hinder the ongoing investigation and that there was a high likelihood that he would engage in the same activities again, exacerbating the security situation in Manipur.

The NIA also stated that the accused was in communication with several associates during a period of ethnic unrest in Manipur, and there was a high probability that he might abscond or engage in detrimental activities to influence other suspects and witnesses, including tampering with evidence, if not kept in judicial custody during the investigation.

According to the NIA, Moirangthem Anand Singh was arrested on September 22, 2023, in Imphal West Police Station. He was brought to New Delhi after his arrest and produced before the Delhi Court on September 23, 2023. Subsequently, the court remanded him to judicial custody.

The case is related to a transnational conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Myanmar-based leadership of terror outfits with the aim of waging war against the government of India by exploiting ethnic unrest in Manipur.

The NIA had registered a suo moto case in New Delhi on July 19, 2023, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The investigation revealed that the leadership based in Myanmar of insurgent groups and proscribed terrorist organizations was recruiting overground workers (OGWs), cadres, and sympathizers to strengthen their ranks and carry out attacks on security forces and opposing ethnic groups in Manipur. To achieve this, the leadership collected arms, ammunition, and explosives through unlawful means, including the plunder and pillage of government facilities and resources.