Meghalaya: DGP LR Bishnoi moves HC to quash FIR against him

Director General of Police (DGP), Lajja Ram Bishnoi moved the Meghalaya High Court to quash the FIR filed by suspended police officer GK Iangrai against him for allegedly tampering with the number plate of his official vehicle.

Meghalaya Police had earlier initiated a criminal case against the state's DGP on May 9, over allegations of misusing his official position and tampering with the registration number of his official vehicle.

The case was registered after suspended police officer Gabriel K Iangrai filed a formal complaint, accusing the top cop of offenses including criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and cheating.

Speaking to reporters, an official source said that the FIR was acted upon by the before any preliminary inquiry, following which the petition was moved.  On the basis of the FIR, a case was registered under sections 409/467/471/120 B IPC read with section 792 of M V Act at Sadar Police station.

In the petition, the DGP also said he entrusted the matter to be probed by the CID which is not under him.

According to the FIR lodged by Iangrai, an inquiry committee report from July 2022 revealed that a Hyundai Verna parked at the Central Workshop had been assigned a fake registration number, and the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG-A) failed to register the vehicle due to a lack of necessary documents.

Citing information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application, Iangrai alleged that the registration number of the white Kia Carnival limousine used by the DGP is actually that of a Verna 1.6 VTVT registered with the state Tourism Department.

"The information provided under the RTI by the Transport Department exposes the inquiry committee's report, which calls for necessary action against the committee members," Iangrai stated in the FIR.