Supreme Court grants bail to Manipur conspiracy case accused, overrules Delhi HC

Guwahati: The Supreme Court on December 11 granted bail to Moirangthem Anand Singh, accused of links with Myanmar-based rebel groups and conspiring to exploit ethnic unrest in Manipur to wage war against India, after he spent over two-and-a-half years in pre-trial detention.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta cited the prolonged incarceration and the lack of progress in the trial. The judges also noted that Singh’s co-accused had already secured bail and observed that the circumstances and the time he had already spent in custody made them “inclined to grant bail.”

The top court’s decision overturns the Delhi High Court’s April 2 ruling, which had denied bail citing concerns over Singh fleeing or influencing witnesses amid what the High Court termed a “volatile situation” in Manipur.

Singh was arrested in September 2023 after authorities intercepted a vehicle carrying him and four others in Manipur. Officials alleged the group possessed weapons, some reportedly looted from a police armoury, and were dressed in camouflage. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) described the case as part of a “transnational conspiracy” involving Myanmar-based rebel groups.

While granting bail, the Supreme Court instructed Singh to comply with conditions set by the trial court and warned that the order could be reviewed if he was found to be delaying proceedings.

The NIA opposed Singh’s bail, emphasising the seriousness of the allegations and the cross-border nature of the plot. Singh’s defence also countered that the evidence supporting the conspiracy charge was insufficient and pointed out that other accused in the case had already been released.