Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 07-09-2026

Case Overview

  • Criminal Appeal No. 455/2020 filed by appellant Hopeson Ningshen against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
  • IA No. 66420/2021 sought grant of bail; the matter was heard on 07-09-2026 before Hon'ble Justices M.M. Sundresh and Prasanna B. Varale.
  • The appellant was convicted by the Trial Court under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 392 (robbery), and 302 (murder) and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life.
  • The High Court confirmed the conviction and sentence.
  • The appellant has been incarcerated for more than 17 years and the appeal has been pending since 2020.
  • Counsel for the appellant suggested conditional suspension of the sentence; the State counsel expressed apprehensions, and the learned ASG highlighted the need for adequate safeguards.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court, considering the prolonged incarceration, suspended the life sentence and granted bail to the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.
  • Bail conditions imposed:

1. The appellant shall remain within the State of Delhi and shall not leave until disposal of the appeal.

2. He shall report daily to the SHO, Tilak Marg police station to confirm his presence in Delhi.

3. He shall update his residential address and telephone contact details to the SHO, Tilak Marg and to the CBI, ACB, Imphal.

4. He shall not contact or approach, directly or indirectly, any member/relative of the families of the victims in CBI Cases RC.02(S)/2009 and RC.03(S)/2009.

5. He shall not contact or approach, directly or indirectly, any witnesses who deposed during the trial of the same CBI cases.

6. He shall not contact, approach, or join any insurgent or militant organization or its members.

  • In case of violation of any condition, the respondents (CBI and State) may seek cancellation of the suspension of sentence.
  • The application for bail is allowed, and the appeal will be listed for hearing in due course.

Topics: Bail Grant, Criminal Appeal, Supreme Court Order