Court denies bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das again

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote and expelled ISKCON leader, has once again been denied bail in a sedition case. 

The Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, presided over by Judge Md Saiful Islam, rejected his bail plea on Thursday, January 2.

This is the latest legal setback for Chinmoy, who was arrested on November 25, 2024, at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka while returning to Chittagong. A sedition case had been filed against him and 18 others at Kotwali Police Station on October 31.

At the hearing, 11 Supreme Court lawyers, led by Advocate Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya, represented Chinmoy. 

However, Assistant Public Prosecutor Md Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury opposed the bail, emphasising the gravity of the charges.

“This is a sedition case, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,” explained Chittagong District Bar Association President Nazim Uddin Chowdhury. “The court rejected the bail, likely due to the serious nature of the allegations.”

Chinmoy Krishna Das was handed over to the Chattogram Metropolitan Police after his arrest. He was presented in court the following day, where his initial bail plea was denied by the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court. That hearing was marred by clashes between Chinmoy’s supporters and police, leading to an attack on a police lawyer and the death of another lawyer, Saiful Islam Alif.

A subsequent bail hearing on December 3 was postponed as no lawyer appeared to represent Chinmoy. Thursday’s hearing marked another attempt to secure his release, which again ended in rejection.

Chinmoy’s legal team has indicated plans to escalate the matter. Advocate Apurba Bhattacharya said, “The court has rejected the bail application. We will take the matter to the High Court.”

Despite the virtual appearance of Chinmoy’s lawyers during the hearing, the court remained firm in its decision.