Nagaland: HC dismisses Reny Wilfred’s plea to quash criminal proceedings

The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, has dismissed a writ petition filed by IAS officer Reny Wilfred seeking to quash criminal proceedings and charge sheet of alleged sexual offences against him. The Court held that the records showed a strong prima facie case warranting continuation of prosecution.
In the order passed Friday, Justice Mitali Thakuria observed that the complaint submitted to the Director General of Police and the subsequent preliminary inquiry revealed sufficient grounds to proceed.
The Court noted that the investigation had resulted in a charge sheet supported by adequate prima facie evidence and concluded that it was “not at all a fit case” for quashing either the criminal proceedings or the charge sheet under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023. Accordingly, the Judge dismissed the writ petition filed by Wilfred.
Wilfred was suspended by the Nagaland government in May 2025 following criminal investigations into multiple allegations of sexual harassment. The FIR, registered on April 4, 2025, was based on complaints received by the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW).
More than ten young women- mostly contractual staff of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN)- had leveled allegations leading to charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to assault and sexual harassment.
On November 23, Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover had criticised Wilfred’s litigation approach, stating that by naming the NSCW and individually impleading three of its members, he had made a “desperate attempt to intimidate both the victims and the Women’s Commission.” She had also flagged what she described as deliberate delays, citing multiple adjournment requests despite order sheets showing that pleadings were nearing completion.
The Court had earlier scheduled the next hearing for December 9, directing all parties to ensure that an arguing counsel remained present, and had clarified that pendency of the writ petition did not amount to a stay on the ongoing criminal trial.