Cyber crime accused Pankaj Gupta released on bail

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Aug. 5 (EMN): Cyber crime accused Pankaj Gupta was released on Wednesday in Kohima, 10 days after he was granted bail by the Gauhati High Court.

The attorney defending Gupta informed Eastern Mirror that the accused was released on Wednesday after furnishing a personal recognisance bond of INR 1 lakh and two surety bonds of the like amount by residents of Nagaland, as mentioned in the bail order passed by the Gauhati High Court on July 27.

“The next step is to get the entire case against him quashed; for that I have filed a petition under section 482 Cr.P.C. at the high court,” informed the attorney.

The Gauhati High Court had on July 27 granted bail to Gupta on several conditions, including furnishing of its prescribed PR bond and two surety bonds from permanent residents of the state. However, Gupta’s lawyer Joshua Shequi had told this newspaper at that time that the release of his client could be delayed due to the lockdown situation in the state.

The court had also restricted the accused from leaving Nagaland state without the permission of the I.O (investigation officer) of the case and the Court concerned and also directed not to indulge in any act which would hamper or interfere with the investigation and trial of the case.

It may be mentioned that Gupta has been in police custody since his arrest in Haryana on June 9 after his video, accusing Nagaland chief minister and the state government of intentionally spreading Covid-19 in the state to get more funds from the Central government, went viral. A non-bailable warrant was slapped against him for the allegation and charged under several sections of the IPC.