Hindu Monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Gets Bail From Bangladesh High Court After Over Five Months In Jail

Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday (30 April) granted bail to Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in an alleged sedition case, reported Bangladesh-based The Daily Star.

The order was passed by a bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza on a bail petition by Das.

Chinmoy Krishna Das, former ISKCON leader and spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested at Dhaka airport on 25 November last year over allegations of insulting the national flag of Bangladesh and is facing sedition charges, news agency ANI reported.

After the Chittagong lower court rejected his bail request on 2 January, Das approached the High Court seeking relief.

In February, the High Court had asked the government to explain why Das should not be granted bail, according to his lawyer.

He is expected to be released from the jail following the HC order, unless the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stays the HC verdict, Advocate Prahlad Debnath, The Daily Star reported citing a lawyer for Das.

At the 2 January Chittagong court hearing, the defence argued Das revered the country akin to his mother and was not a traitor. Despite these arguments, the court denied the bail plea.

On 23 April, Das' lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee prayed to the HC bench to grant bail to his client, saying that the Hindu monk is ill and suffering in jail without trial.

The HC did not grant bail to him then, saying it would deliver verdict after the hearing on Wednesday (30 April).

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