Dimapur, May 26 (EMN): Lone Lok Sabha member and former State chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, on Friday appeared before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Dimapur, in connection with the lawsuit alleging his false educational qualification.
The hearing today was fixed for consideration of charges. According to Rio’s counsel, Vitsorel Lcho, the CJM reserved his judgement.
Addressing reporters outside the court of District and Sessions Judge, Dimapur, the lawyer said: “The case is being delayed for almost two years and our appeal before the court is to dismiss the case as the limitation period of the case is over and the charges are not relevant.
“There is a specific period to file a case against a particular charge. However in this case, the charges came after a period of one year,” he stated. He expressed hope that the court will consider and dismiss the case accordingly.
‘The error was on the part of the college authority and the MP with no criminal intention committed the mistake,’ reiterated Lcho.
Stating that there is a complaint case and also an FIR against the same offence, he said both shall be tried together as the offence (as per the complainant) and the allegation are the same. Quoting Article 20 of Constitution of India, the counsel defended saying, ‘one should not be prosecuted twice for the same case’.
The case was heard by CJM Dimapur, Ajongba Imchen, which lasted for two and half hours.
