The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division yesterday upheld the High Court order that had granted bail to Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna in two cases, paving the way of his release from jail. It granted him bail until police submit charge sheets to the lower court in the cases.
However, the apex court asked Manna to surrender his passport to the trial court during furnishing the bail bond at the lower court, Advocate Md Manjur Alam, a lawyer for Manna, told reporters after the SC order. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after disposing of two separate petitions filed by the government against the HC order.
Earlier on November 14, the apex court stayed the High Court order granting bail to Manna in the cases filed on charge of sedition and instigating the army to topple the government. The High Court on November 11 granted bail to Manna in the cases. The government then filed the petition with the apex court seeking a stay on the High Court verdict.
The two cases were filed with Gulshan police station on 24 February and 5 March last year on charges of provoking the army and sedition.