Though Zodinliana Sailo and another accused were able to secure the bail, the court issued a fresh arrest warrant after the public outcry.
New Delhi: It is yet another darker side of human society.
Former Mizoram chief minister, Brig. T. Sailo's grandson, Zodinliana Sailo, on Thursday, November 4, 2021, surrendered himself before the cops in state capital Aizawl in connection to an alleged sodomy case.
The unfortunate incident took place in 2018.
According to an order of the Additional District Judge, Sailo and another accused have been arrested in a "non-bailable section of law". The original FIR was lodged on September 28, 2018, and the formal charge sheet was submitted on February 12, 2019.
The 30-year-old Sailo had allegedly sodomized a 25-year-old youth on September 9, 2018. He and another co-accused, R Lalhruaitluanga, were "arrested after a complaint was filed". But both of them managed to secure bail later.
However, following "public outcry and media attention", Aizawl's additional district and sessions judge HTC Lalrinchhana took cognizance of the matter on Wednesday (November 3, 2021) and issued arrest warrants against Sailo and Lalhruaitluanga.
The court had said the arrest order was being issued to "restore public faith in the justice delivery system". But when police went to arrest Sailo, he allegedly evaded arrest and surrendered himself before the police around 2 am on Thursday, November 4. As the second accused Lalhruaitluanga tested positive for Covid-19, police have "kept him in isolation" at his home.
One of the victim's relatives had accused police of trying to convince the family to settle the case with the accused. A forum, the People's Union for Justice Mizoram, was formed to ensure justice for the accused. As the protest grew stronger, police added IPC section 377 read with 511 and sections 120 B (1)/294 and 367-non-bailable offences in the charge sheet.
While taking cognizance of the matter, the court quashed the bail of both the accused and issued fresh arrest warrants. The next court hearing will be held on Friday.
The victim's mother had alleged in 2018 that her son was "harassed using a pistol, sticks, body bags". "They tore his T-shirt and told him to take his remaining clothes off. As he feared for his life, my son did as he was told."
Former Mizoram CM Brig. (Retd) T. Sailo Mizoram People's Conference and was twice the Chief Minister of Mizoram in the 1970s when the province was still a Union Territory.
Brig. Sailo was also a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) of the Indian army and civilian award Padma Shri for his humanitarian works. He was also honoured with the Mizo Award for his lifetime achievements.
