Meghalaya High Court
The Central Bureau Of vs M. Ampareen Lyngdoh & Ors. on 11 April, 2025
Serial Nos. 01-05 HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA
Daily List AT SHILLONG
Crl.Petn. No. 12 of 2023 with
Crl.Petn. No. 36 of 2023
Crl.Petn. No. 37 of 2023
Crl.Petn. No. 70 of 2023
Crl.Petn. No. 71 of 2023
Date of order: 11.04.2025
The Central Bureau of vs M. Ampareen Lyngdoh & ors.
Investigation Shillong
Mazeal Ampareen Lyngdoh vs The Central Bureau of
Investigation
Mazeal Ampareen Lyngdoh vs The Central Bureau of
Investigation & anr.
Jeffrey D Sangma vs Central Bureau of
Investigation & anr.
Jeffrey D Sangma vs Central Bureau of
Investigation
Coram:
Hon'ble Mr. Justice I.P. Mukerji, Chief Justice
Appearance in Crl.Petn. No. 12 of 2023:
For the Petitioner : Dr. N. Mozika, DSGI with
Ms. K. Gurung, Adv.
For the Respondents : Mr. S. Khurshid, Sr. Adv. with
Ms. S. Ain, Adv.
Mr. S. Panthi, Adv.
Mr. R. Kharsyad, Adv.
Appearance in Crl.Petn. Nos. 36/ 2023, 37/ 2023, 70/ 2023,71/ 2023:
For the Petitioners : Mr. S. Khurshid, Sr. Adv. with
Ms. S. Ain, Adv.
Mr. S. Panthi, Adv.
Mr. R. Kharsyad, Adv.
Page 1 of 4
For the Respondents : Dr. N. Mozika, DSGI with
Ms. K. Gurung, Adv.
Mr. C.C.T. Sangma, Adv.
i) Whether approved for Yes
reporting in Law journals etc.:
ii) Whether approved for publication Yes
in press:
Note: For proper public information and transparency, any media
reporting this judgment is directed to mention the composition of
the bench by name of judges, while reporting this
judgment/order.
Today, both learned counsel have relied upon an application
made by the prosecution before the court of the learned Special Judge
(CBI) at Shillong in the criminal proceeding in question in Special Case
No. 2 of 2020, initiated against amongst others, the Hon’ble Law
Minister, accused in a school teacher’s recruitment scam.
This is further to my order dated 20th February, 2025 observing
that a large number of witnesses proposed to be produced for the
prosecution be suitably curtailed for a fair trial and for the ends of
justice. Of course, it goes without saying that such curtailment of
witnesses would in no way sacrifice the sufficiency of proof to be
adduced in this kind of a matter.
Page 2 of 4
In this application, in paragraph 5 the prosecution has decided to
drop 317 out of 492 witnesses and to add six additional witnesses.
This Court is told that this application has been allowed by the
learned trial judge.
Earlier, 28 witnesses have already been examined.
The next date of trial is 5th May, 2025.
In the circumstances, the trial is now ready to proceed.
Nevertheless, there are pending applications before this Court, the
foremost being an application by the accused under Section 482 of the
Criminal Procedure Code to quash the criminal proceedings. This Court
has started hearing this application. If this application succeeds then that
would be the end of the trial. If it does not, the trial may continue.
In my view, there is no point in further continuance of the trial at
this stage before disposal of this Section 482 application.
This Court is not formally staying the trial but only requesting the
learned Special Judge (CBI) at Shillong to adjourn further examination
of witnesses for such period as he deems fit and proper to enable this
Court to conclude hearing of the said pending application and to
pronounce judgment.
Page 3 of 4
Mr. Salman Khurshid, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the
accused in the Section 482 CrPC is requested to continue his arguments
in the Section 482 application.
Mr. Salman Khurshid continues his arguments but does not
conclude the same.
List these matters on 7th and 8th May, 2025 marked at 12.30 p.m.
or after exhaustion of the Division Bench matters, whichever is earlier.
(I.P. Mukerji)
Chief Justice
Meghalaya
11.04.2025
“Sylvana PS”
Page 4 of 4