Supreme Court Sets Aside Manipur High Court’s Directions To CBI in Timothi Changsang Case

IMPHAL: The Supreme Court of India on December 5, 2024, set aside the suo motu directions issued by the Manipur High Court in October 2023. The High Court had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to expedite the search for Timothi Changsang, a Northeast child-home administrator convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, for raping minor girls, to be produced within three months. The convict had been absconding since 2018.

The CBI filed a criminal appeal challenging the orders issued on October 4, 2023, and January 1, 2024, where it had requested to be made a party to the proceedings, but its plea was rejected. The High Court, despite not being pleaded, passed directions for the CBI to trace the convict. 

In July 2024, the Supreme Court stayed these directions. The CBI argued that it was not responsible for locating the convict, as its primary role is to investigate, not to track down fugitives. The agency also pointed out that the convict was last seen leaving the airport, according to the Manipur State's affidavit.

The Supreme Court, while setting aside the High Court's directions, agreed that the request made by the CBI was legitimate, especially since the state government had already formed special teams to trace the convict under the supervision of the Director General of Police (DGP).

Justice B.V. Nagarathna remarked, "Where will you go all over the world?" and noted that if necessary, the state government could seek assistance from the central government.

The convict's sentence was upheld both by the Manipur High Court and the Supreme Court.

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