The five accused are Deepak Sharma @ Khinmaung, 38, son of Sibalal Sharma of Sandaguu, Sagaing division, Myanmar; Suraj Jaswal, 33, son of Arjun Jaiswal of Moreh, Tengnoupal district; Santosh Gupta, 44, son of (L) Banarsi Lal of Moreh; Sonar Nepolean Bahadur, 39, son of S Kali Bahadur, Moreh; Shaikhom Bruce Meitei, 38, son of (L) Shaikhom Yaoshkul Meetei of Moreh, Tengnoupal district.

It is alleged that monies were deposited into their bank accounts on different occasions by the general public under threat and duress from the members of proscribed underground organisations. The deposited amounts were then further transferred to members of proscribed underground organisations. Further, the accused used to open different accounts through which other illegal transactions were done.

During the hearing, the public prosecutor of NIA submitted that, to avoid any destruction of evidences available against the accused and any manipulation of threat by the accused or their associates to the victims who deposited extortion money into their bank accounts, the five accused to be remanded to judicial custody to enable the NIA to investigate properly.

Meanwhile, counsel of Nepolean filed a bail application to release him as he is innocent and falsely implicated in the case.

After hearing the submission, the court stated that as of now, as per the materials placed before the court, there is prima facie materials to show that the accused persons committed the alleged offences. Hence, they were remanded in judicial custody for 15 days till February 8.