Cases Under Digital Security Act: Give training to cops to finish probe in 75 days

The High Court has directed the inspector general of police to take steps necessary to train officers to complete investigating cases filed under the Digital Security Act in 75 days.

"The investigation officers must take permission from the [cyber] tribunals concerned in order to continue investigations of the cases filed under the Digital Security Act, 2018 after 75 days of their filing under section 40 of the act," the HC said.

"But, it was noted that investigations of many cases, including those filed against [photojournalist] Shafiqul Islam Kajol, under the act were not completed in the stipulated period and the probes of the cases continued without permission from the tribunals.

"That is why, the inspector general of police is directed to take necessary steps and to provide training to police officers concerned to this effect."

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the directive and observation in the full text of its verdict that granted bail to Kajol in two cases filed under the Digital Security Act.

The full text was released yesterday after judges of the bench signed it on December 22, court sources said.

Kajol will be released from jail after a copy of the HC verdict reaches the jail authorities, his lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua told The Daily Star on Wednesday.

The HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim on December 17 granted bail to Shafiqul Islam Kajol as the investigators failed to take permission from the cyber tribunal to probe the two cases within 75 days.

Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi told the court that the investigation officer did not take permission because they did not know the relevant provision.

Jyotirmoy told the HC that his client, who is a renowned photographer, had been abducted and kept confined for 53 days. Kajol has been languishing in jail, while the probe goes on, which is a violation of the law.

The accused petitioner has the right to life as per the constitution and therefore, he may be granted bail in the cases, Jyotirmoy told the court.

On November 24, the same HC bench had granted bail to Kajol in one of the three cases filed under the Digital Security Act. Jyotirmoy told the court that the investigations of the two cases were illegal as the probes had to be concluded within 75 days of filing of the cases.

Ruling Awami League lawmaker from Magura-1 Saifuzzaman Shikhor filed one of the three cases with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on March 9 against Kajol and 31 others, alleging that the accused had defamed him by publishing a report on the crimes of expelled Narsingdi Juba Mahila League general secretary Shamima Nur Papiya.

The two other cases were filed against Kajol on March 10 and 11 with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations. One was filed by Hazaribagh unit Juba Mahila League leader Yasmi Ara Belly and the other by Sumaiya Chowdhury Banna, a member of Bangladesh Juba Mahila League's central committee.