Former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari has officially been shown arrested in four additional cases following a court order issued Tuesday morning.
Chattogram’s 6th Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin made the ruling during a virtual hearing after investigating officers submitted petitions to show Chinmoy arrested in cases related to obstructing police duties at Kotwali Police Station and attacks on lawyers and justice seekers. Assistant Public Prosecutor Md. Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury confirmed the court’s approval of all four arrest petitions.
Just a day earlier, the same court ordered Chinmoy to be shown arrested in the high-profile murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
Security was heightened both at the Chattogram court premises and in front of Chattogram jail ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, though Chinmoy participated virtually due to security concerns.
Chinmoy remains in jail on charges of sedition, stemming from allegations of desecrating the national flag during a rally. He was arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch at Dhaka airport on November 26 last year and has since faced multiple failed bail applications.
Tensions escalated on November 26 after a court rejected Chinmoy’s bail plea, sparking violent clashes between his supporters, police, and other groups. The chaos led to the brutal killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif.
Following these incidents, police filed three cases involving attacks on law enforcement, vandalism, and obstruction of duty, naming 79 individuals and accusing roughly 1,400 unidentified persons. Additionally, Alif’s father filed a murder case against 31 individuals, while Alif’s brother lodged a vandalism case implicating 115 accused, including 70 lawyers.
Though the High Court granted Chinmoy bail on April 30, the state promptly appealed for a stay of the order.