P Jackson @ Joseph Phenao vs National Investigation Agency(Nia)
2026 Latest Caselaw 486 Mani

Manipur High Court

P Jackson @ Joseph Phenao vs National Investigation Agency(Nia) on 9 February, 2026

Author: Ahanthem Bimol Singh

Bench: Ahanthem Bimol Singh

                                                 1
            Digitally signed by
JOHN        JOHN TELEN KOM
TELEN KOM   Date: 2026.02.10
            09:21:20 +05'30'                                                Sl. No.1(Suppl.)

                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
                                            AT IMPHAL

                                        Cril.A. No.3 of 2026
            P Jackson @ Joseph Phenao
                                                                                 Appellant
                                           Vs.
            National Investigation Agency(NIA), Imphal
            Branch.
                                                                              Respondent

BEFORE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH (ORDER) s

(Order of the Court was made by M. Sundar, CJ)

09.02.2026.

[1] Captioned Criminal Appeal is a statutory appeal under Section

21 of 'the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (34 of 2008)' (hereafter 'NIA

Act' for the sake of convenience).

[2] Mr. H. Kenanjit, learned counsel for appellant submits that

captioned appeal is against an order dated 30.01.2026 made in Cril.

Misc.(Bail) No. 26 of 2026 on the file of the Court of Special Judge, NIA-I,

Manipur (this '30.01.2026 order' shall be referred to as 'impugned order' and

the 'court which made the impugned order' shall be referred to as 'said NIA

court' both for the sake of convenience and clarity).

[3] Learned counsel for appellant submits that the appellant was

arrested on 30.07.2025, a default bail application was moved on 27.01.2026,

NIA filed objections (written submissions) opposing the default bail application

(these written submissions are dated 28.01.2026) and appellant responded

by way of a reply to written submissions dated 29.01.2026. It is submitted that

the impugned order was made by said NIA court thereafter.

[4] Learned counsel for appellant submits that rejection of default

bail application post 180 days from the date of arrest is flawed and learned

counsel adds that 180 days from the date of arrest elapsed on 26.01.2026.

Learned counsel submits that there are other points that have been raised in

the appeal.

[5]           Issue notice.

[6]           Mr. N. Nongdamba, learned counsel accepts notice for

respondent and Mr. Kh. Samarjit, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India

(DSGI) and senior counsel appears on his behalf.

[7] Mr. N. Nongdamba, learned counsel requests for time to get

instructions and respond to the captioned appeal.

[8] Be that as it may, this Court is informed that a regular bail

application made by the same appellant was rejected by the said NIA court in

and vide an order dated 12.11.2025 and appellant has come to this Court

assailing this 12.11.2025 by way of another statutory appeal under Section 21

of NIA Act being Criminal Appeal No.30 of 2025 and it also submitted that this

Criminal Appeal No.30 of 2025 is scheduled to be listed on 18.02.2026.

[9]           List captioned matter on 18.02.2026.




              JUDGE                             CHIEF JUSTICE


John Kom