SHILLONG: The Meghalaya high court has intervened in the case involving the incumbent Director General of Police (DGP), LR Bishnoi, directing that no coercive action be taken against him regarding an FIR filed over the use of a fake number plate.
Justice B Bhattacharjee, in an order, mandated that pending further proceedings, there should be no punitive measures against Bishnoi in connection with Sadar PS FIR No 141(5) 2024 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Motor Vehicles Act.
The court’s decision came following contentions raised by Bishnoi’s legal counsel, who argued that the FIR was lodged with vindictive intent due to previous inquiries initiated against him during his tenure as the DGP.
Additionally, it was contended that the allegations in the FIR did not meet the legal requirements for registration under the stated sections of law.
The FIR against Bishnoi was filed by former Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Meghalaya police, GK Iangrai, on May 09.
Iangrai accused Bishnoi of misusing and tampering with the registration number plate of his vehicle.
This complaint, lodged with the Sadar police station, coincided with Bishnoi’s impending retirement on May 19.
In the FIR, Iangrai also sought action against members of the Inquiry Committee investigating the matter, alleging discrepancies in their report.
He cited a Right to Information (RTI) response from the transport department, contradicting the committee’s findings.
Furthermore, Iangrai accused Bishnoi of conspiring to change the number plate of his official vehicle and using it for personal purposes, violating rules governing the entitlements of high-ranking officials.
Responding to the developments, Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong emphasized that the law would take its course regarding the FIR against Bishnoi.
He urged patience as the investigation commenced, emphasizing the importance of allowing due process to unfold.