Contempt rule issued on 5 cops

The High Court yesterday issued a contempt of court rule against five Dhaka traffic officers for stopping a judge's car and detaining its driver for one and a half hours at Rampura on April 5 over a false allegation.
The court also summoned them to appear before it on April 15 in connection with the rule.
On April 5, traffic Sergeant Nayeem of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stopped official VIP car of Justice SM Emdadul Hoque on a false allegation that the driver violated traffic signal, the court said in the order.
The wife of the judge was in the car.
The contemnors are Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) of DMP's East Zone Iqbal Hossain, its Additional Deputy Commissioner Moynul Hossain, Assistant Commissioner Mukta Dhar, Traffic Inspector Akhter Hossain and Sergeant Nayeem.
The HC bench of Justice Hoque issued the rule on a suo moto move, asking the officials to explain why a contempt proceeding should not be drawn against them for “their wilful disregard and contempt of court”.
In the order the judge said Sergeant Nayeem detained his driver Ekhlas Ukil as the car, with his wife Tahmina Khanom aboard, arrived near Rampura Bridge at 8:30am, alleging violation of traffic signal. The officer illegally confined the driver until 10:00am even though she disclosed her identity.
The judge said informed of the matter by his wife over the telephone, he immediately sent his gunman to resolve the situation. Gunman Towhid went there at 9:00am and requested Nayeem to release the car but the latter did not pay any heed to it.
Rather the officer said he talked to his higher authorities (four other contemnors) who directed him to detain the car until they reach the spot.
“My gunman then gave his mobile phone to the sergeant and asked him to talk to me. But the sergeant with utter audacity and disregard denied talking to me,” the judge said.
“Waiting for half an hour, I contacted the DMP Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman at the headquarters. Upon his interference, ADC traffic of east zone helped release the car at 10:00am,” the judge added.
The order said such illegal step taken by the contemnors has interfered with the dignity and sanctity of the Supreme Court, thus constituting contempt of court making them liable to be punished.