Ex-Iskcon leader Chinmoy shown arrested in lawyer Alif murder case
Chinmoy had been in custody for five months in connection with a sedition case filed in connection with allegations of insulting the national flag.
A Chattogram court has ordered that former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari be officially shown arrested in the case filed over the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin issued the order following a hearing this morning (5 May). Chinmoy appeared virtually during the proceedings, according to media reports.
Yesterday (4 May), police submitted petitions seeking to show Chinmoy arrested in four cases — including Alif's murder, obstruction of police duties, and attacks on lawyers and litigants.
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The hearing on the application to show Chinmoy, spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, arrested in the Alif murder case took place today. The hearings for the other three petitions are scheduled for tomorrow.
Chinmoy had been in custody for five months in connection with a sedition case.
On 30 April, a High Court bench granted bail to Chinmoy and made absolute the rule issued regarding his bail.
Later that day, the state filed an appeal with the Chamber Court seeking a stay on the High Court order. That evening, Chamber Judge Justice Md Rezaul Haque stayed the bail.
However, the stay was later withdrawn, and the Chamber Court was supposed to hold a rehearing yesterday (4 May). But it got postponed as the Supreme Court observed a half-day closure yesterday to pay tribute to late senior lawyer MI Faruki, who passed away last Saturday night.
The sedition case against Chinmoy was filed on 31 October last year, following allegations of insulting the national flag.
It came after a large gathering of the Sanatani community, led by Chinmoy, was held in Chattogram on 25 October. He was arrested in Dhaka on 25 November.
On 26 November, a Chattogram court denied him bail and ordered him to jail. A revision petition was then filed, and a fresh bail application submitted.
During this time, Chinmoy's followers were allegedly involved in clashes near the court, during which Advocate Saiful Islam Alif was beaten and hacked to death.
On 2 January, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court again rejected Chinmoy's bail application.
A new bail plea was then filed in the High Court by former Deputy Attorney General Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya on Chinmoy's behalf.
