13 hours Ago
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday upheld a High Court order that granted bail to former superintendent of police (SP) Babul Akter in a case filed over the murder of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu in 2016. Appellate Division Judge-in-Chamber Justice Md Rezaul Haque after passed the order on a petition filed by Mosharraf Hossain, the victim's father, who sought a stay on the HC bail order. Babul's lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir said that there is no legal bar to his client's release from jail following the SC chamber judge's order.
Earlier, on November 27, the HC division bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza granted sis months ad-interim bail to Babul Akter, considering that he is languishing in jail for last 3.7 years. The court also issued a rule, asking as to why Babul shall not be granted permanent bail in the case.
Babul's lawyer, however, claimed no witness appeared before the court for testifying since July 1. Those who testified in the case earlier, also pleaded to recall their testimonies, saying they were forced to make false depositions under the pressure of then PBI chief Banaz Kumar Mazumder. On November 27, the High Court granted him interim bail through a rule.
Mosharraf Hossain, the plaintiff and Mitu’s father, later filed a petition to stay this order, which the Supreme Court reviewed on Wednesday and upheld the High Court’s bail decision. On June 5, 2016, Mitu was stabbed and shot dead while she was taking her son to the school bus stop in GEC intersection of Chattogram city. After the murder, as the complainant Babul filed a murder case against three unidentified men at Panchlaish Police Station.
Then, the case was taken over by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) from the Detective Branch of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. As thePBI found evidence linking Babul to the crime. Mitu’s father filed another case against eight people, making Babul the prime accused in the case on May 12, 2021.
PBI arrested Babul on the same day. Mitu's father also alleged that Babul killed his wife over an extra-marital affair. On September 13, 2021, PBI submitted a charge sheet to the court, naming Babul and six others as accused.
The court accepted the charge sheet on October 10. Chattogram 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Jasim Uddin on March 13, 2023, framed charges against seven, including Babul Akter, in the sensational murder case. The other accused in the case are- Motaleb Miah alias Wasim, Anwar Hossain, Ehteshamul Haque Bhola, Shahjahan Miah, Kamrul Islam Shikder Musa and Khairul Islam.
Babul after that filed the petition with the High Court, challenging the legality of Chattogram court's indictment order. The High Court on May 9, 2023, however, scrapped that petition. NY.
