Chinmoy secures bail after chamber judge withdraws stay order

Former ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, has secured bail from the High Court today in connection with a sedition case.

However, following a petition filed by the state seeking a stay on the HC verdict, Justice Md Rezaul Haque, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division, had initially stayed the bail.

Additional Attorneys General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf and Aneek R Haque had moved the stay petition on behalf of the state.

Later on, the apex court chamber judge withdrew its stay order on a suo moto (voluntary) move as no lawyers for Chinmoy were present at the time, Chinmoy's lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee told The Daily Star this evening.

The chamber judge may hold a hearing on the state's stay petition on Sunday in presence of lawyers from both sides, according to Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Farid Uddin Khan.

Earlier around 3:00pm today, the HC bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza granted bail to Chinmoy.

Senior lawyers ZI Khan Panna, Prabir Ranjon Halder and Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee had placed arguments before the HC, saying that their client was innocent as there was no specific allegation against him.

They also prayed to the HC bench to grant bail to Chinmoy, saying that he was ill and suffering in jail without trial.

Meanwhile, Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque opposed the bail petition of Chinmoy, saying that Chinmoy could interfere in the investigation proceedings if he is granted bail and released from jail.

Additional Attorney General Md Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan and DAG Farid Uddin Khan also appeared for the state during the hearing.

There is also a possibility of Chinmoy Das fleeing if he is released, as he was absconding before his arrest, AAG Aneek R Haque said.

On October 31 last year, Firoz Khan, former general secretary of Chattogram's Mohora ward BNP, filed the case with Kotwali Police Station, accusing Chinmoy and 18 others of disrespecting the national flag during a rally on October 25 in the port city's New Market area.

On November 26, a Chattogram court sent Chinmoy to jail, rejecting his bail prayer after he was arrested in the capital the previous day.

Following the bail petition filed by Chinmoy, the HC bench on February 4 issued the rule asking the state to explain in two weeks why the accused should not be granted bail in the case.

Advocate Apurba Kumar submitted the petition on behalf of Chinmoy to the HC on January 12.