Supreme Court Prevents Manipur Police From Arresting Transgender Activist Over FB Posts

Imphal: Manipur Police cannot arrest Santa Khurai, a leading transgender rights activist from the north-eastern state, in connection with a case filed against her for certain Facebook posts.

Hearing a petition filed by Khurai, a Supreme Court division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta ruled that the activist’s arrest “shall remain stayed” and directed her to fully cooperate with the investigation.

“No further case be registered against the petitioner on the basis of posts made by her with regard to the alleged misappropriation of funds by the social welfare department, Manipur, meant for the welfare of the transgenders,” the order stated.

In three posts on Facebook made on September 1, the Imphal-based trans woman alleged mismanagement of transgender welfare funds by the state social welfare department.

In her posts, Khurai questioned a survey of transgenders, which was to be conducted by the social welfare department and alleged that officials could “share and eat up trans fund of Rs 10 lakh.”

Two days later, an all-male police team went to her home in Imphal and asked about her whereabouts.

When they were told Khurai was in Bangkok at that time, the team served a summon to her brother’s wife asking the trans activist to be present at Porompat police station in Imphal East district on September 8.

Khurai filed a petition in the top court seeking the quashing of the summon issued by the state police, contending that she was apprehensive there is threat to her life, liberty and security if she travels to the state in connection with investigation of the case.