SC upholds Manna’s bail, no bar to release

The Supreme Court today upheld the High Court order that had granted bail to Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna in two cases, paving the way of his release from jail.

The apex court granted him bail until police submit charge sheets to the lower court in the cases.

It also asked Manna to deposit his passport to the trial court during furnish bail bond at the lower court, Advocate Md Manjur Alam, a lawyer for Manna, told The Daily Star.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after disposing of two separate petitions filed by the government challenging the HC bail orders.

On August 30 and November 10, the HC granted the bail to Manna in the cases filed on charge of sedition and provoking the armed forces to topple the government.

Manna was arrested on February 25, 2015, a day after his phone conversations with BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka regarding strengthening the anti-government movement was leaked.

That day, a case was filed against him for instigating the armed forces to topple the government.

On March 5 last year, Gulshan police lodged the sedition case against him.