The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Gauhati High Court order directing a Nagaland government staff to surrender in a case of collecting "tax" on behalf of terrorist organisation NSCN-K.
The top court also expressed concern over the menace of collection of tax going on in the Northeastern region for underground terrorist organisations.
A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Mohan M Shantanagoudar issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency on a special leave petition filed by Kekhriesatuo Tep.
He challenged the Gauhati High Court order of May 8 directing him and others to surrender before the NIA, Dimapur, within three weeks.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner Tep, contended that the high court has not correctly appreciated the situation and overturned the special judge's order to grant bail to the accused.
After a brief hearing, the court sought a response from the NIA to the petition.
On an appeal filed by the NIA, the high court had set aside the order of granting bail to Tep and others by the special judge on October 17.
The high court has said that the trial court was not justified in passing its order, as the records revealed that they had been paying money to different "underground" organisations for which even receipts had been issued.
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