The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the West Bengal government to file its response on a plea by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Roshan Giri who has sought the court’s protection to participate in the Lok Sabha elections.
The State government opposed the plea and told a Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha that Mr. Giri was wanted in several cases and the apex court should not grant him any protection from arrest.
The counsel appearing for West Bengal said Mr. Giri can participate and even contest the election from jail. The State’s counsel said there was incriminating evidence against Mr. Giri, including his telephonic conversations.
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The Bench asked the State to file its reply on Mr. Giri’s plea and posted the matter for further hearing on March 28.
Mr. Giri is one of the accused in the 2010 Madan Tamang murder case. Besides, there area several other cases against him.
The police have claimed that Tamang, who was the All India Gorkha League president, was hacked to death in Darjeeling on May 21, 2010 in broad daylight when he was overseeing preparations for a public meeting.
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The GJM leader has been charged with alleged “criminal conspiracy for murder”, along with several other aides, in the murder case of Tamang.