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The High Court (HC) on Wednesday granted bail to former International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, in a sedition case filed on charge of defaming the national flag.
The HC bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza delivered the verdict after hearing a rule issued on his bail.
Hours after the HC verdict was pronounced, the state filed a petition with the Chamber Court of the Appellate Division, seeking cancellation of the order.
The Chamber Court then stayed the HC bail order. However, shortly after, it withdrew the stay order.
Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque told The Financial Express the Chamber Court would hold a hearing on the state petition on Sunday.
In response to a bail petition, the High Court on February 4 this year issued a rule, asking the respondents to explain why Chinmoy should not be granted bail in the sedition case.
After holding a hearing on the rule on Wednesday, the High Court declared it absolute.
Lawyers ZI Khan Panna, Prabir Halder, and Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee represented the ISKCON leader at the hearing, while Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque stood for the state.
Earlier, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court rejected Chinmoy's bail plea in the case on January 2 this year.
On January 12, he filed a petition with the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. After the primary hearing, the HC on February 4 issued a rule on his bail. On October 31 last year, Firoz Khan, former general secretary of the BNP's Mohora ward unit in Chattogram, filed the case, accusing Chinmoy and 18 others of disrespecting the national flag during a rally on October 25 in the port city’s New Market area.
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