Sl. No. 30 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL Crl. A. No. 6 of 2026 Laishram Bhopen Singh, aged about 41 years, S/o. L. Tomba Singh, a resident of Thoubal Wangkhem Maning Leikai, P.O. Thoubal, Yairipok PS, Thoubal District, Manipur – 795138.` Appellant Vs. National Investigation Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, represented by the Chief Investigation Officer (CIO), National Investigation Agency, Branch Office, Imphal, Manipur, Type VI, Quarter G-1, Lamphel Officer Colony, Lamphelpat, P.O. & P.S. Lamphel, Imphal West District, Manipur – 795004. Respondent BEFORE HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH For appellant Mr. N. Gojen, Advocate, led by Mr. Ch. Ngongo, Sr. Advocate For respondent None appeared Date of Order 08.04.2026 ORDER (M. Sundar, CJ) [1] Mr. Ch. Ngongo, learned senior counsel instructed by counsel on record for appellant, Mr. N. Gojen is before this Court (physical Court). KABORAMBA M SANDEEP SINGH Digitally signed by KABORAMBAM SANDEEP SINGH Date: 2026.04.08 18:27:45 +05'30' [2] This order has to be read in conjunction with and in continuation of earlier proceedings made in the listing yesterday (07.04.2026) which reads as follows: ‘[1] Mr. Th. Khagemba, learned counsel representing counsel on record for appellant and Mr. N. Nongdamba, learned counsel for National Investigation Agency (‘NIA’ for the sake of convenience and brevity) are before this Court (in the physical Court). [2] Mr. Kh. Samarjit, learned senior advocate and learned Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI) appearing on behalf of Mr. N. Nongdamba, learned counsel for NIA is before this Court on the Video Conferencing (VC) platform. [3] Learned counsel representing counsel on record for appellant requests for an adjournment citing counsel inconvenience/difficulty. [4] Be that as it may, learned DSGI who is before this Court on the VC platform very fairly submits that captioned appeal is directed against a bail rejection order but pending appeal charge sheet (final report) has been filed, there is no charge against appellant and the appellant is no longer in custody. Captioned statutory criminal appeal has since become infructuous, is the further submission of learned DSGI. [5] However, as Mr. Th. Khagemba, learned counsel representing the counsel on record for appellant cites difficulty for counsel on record for appellant and seeks a short accommodation, let this matter be listed again tomorrow. [6] List on 08.04.2026.’ [3] Today, Mr. Ch. Ngongo, learned senior counsel for appellant, adverting to the afore-referred proceedings, confirms that appellant has since been enlarged on bail, he has been released and is not in custody. Learned senior counsel, on instructions, confirms that the captioned criminal appeal which is a statutory appeal under Section 21 of the ‘National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008)’ {‘NIA Act’ for the sake of brevity} has since become infructuous and he, therefore, submits that the same can be disposed of as having become infructuous. [4] Before writing the operative portion, this Court deems it appropriate to write that no opinion or view on merits has been expressed in instant order and Trial Court shall proceed with trial on its own merits and in accordance with law untrammeled by instant order. [5] In the light of the narrative thus far, captioned criminal appeal is disposed of as closed, the same having become infructuous. There shall be no order as to costs. JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE Sandeep