A Chattogram court today granted bail to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is currently in jail, in one of the cases filed against him.
Chattogram Judicial Magistrate Shakhawat Hossain granted bail to Chinmoy after a hearing, said court sources.
However, Chinmoy still faces six other cases, including a murder case over the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
The case in which he was granted bail was filed by former BNP minister Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin.
The case was filed over allegations of land grabbing, intimidation, and assault in the Mekhal area of Hathazari upazila in Chattogram.
Court bench assistant Mizanur Rahman told journalists that the court approved the bail petition filed on behalf of Chinmoy after a hearing.
According to court sources and case documents, the case was filed in 2023, naming six accused, including Chinmoy. After investigation, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted its report.
Lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was killed on November 26, 2024, during clashes outside the Chattogram court premises following the rejection of Chinmoy’s bail in a sedition case.
That sedition case stemmed from a complaint filed on October 31, 2024, by Firoz Khan, former general secretary of BNP’s Mohora ward, accusing Chinmoy and others of disrespecting the national flag during a Hindu community rally in the port city’s New Market area on October 25.
After Chinmoy was sent to jail, his supporters blocked a prison van and staged protests demanding his release. Police action to disperse the crowd led to clashes involving his supporters, police, and a group of lawyers.
Alif, a Chattogram court lawyer, was beaten and hacked to death outside the court premises during the violence.
Police later filed three additional cases over vandalism, attacks on police, and obstruction of official duties, naming 79 individuals and around 1,400 unidentified people.
Alif’s father Jamal filed a murder case against 31 people, while his brother Khan-e-Alam lodged another case accusing 115 individuals, including 70 lawyers.
The charge sheet submitted by police said the killing occurred following instigation and provocation by Chinmoy.
