Defended By 11 SC Lawyers, ISKCON Ex-Priest Chinmoy Das Denied Bail

Former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who faces a sedition charge in Bangladesh, has been denied bail by a Chattogram court.

Former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das

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Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das's bail plea was rejected on Thursday by a Chattogram court. A team of 11 Supreme Court lawyers, led by advocate Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, appeared at a bail hearing on Thursday for former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who faced sedition charges, local news website The Daily Star reported.

The bail rejection came after a 30-minute hearing in the court of Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Saiful Islam, Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Advocate Mofizur Haque Bhuiyan was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. The hearing was carried out amid tight security deployment.

Kolkata ISKCON vice-president Radharaman Das reacted to the development saying, "The whole country was waiting for his [Chinmoy Das] bail. He must get justice. A sadhu has been in jail for a long time. His health is also deteriorating."

What Was Hindu Priest Chinmoy Das Arrested In Bangladesh?

Chinmoy Das was alleged to have disrespected Bangladesh's national flag, igniting a major controversy. Advocate Apurba Bhattacharjee, told The Daily Star before the hearing, “We have come to Chattogram under the banner of Ainjibi Oikya Parishad to advocate for Chinmoy Das's bail. I’ve already secured the Vakalatnama from him. Being a member of both the Supreme Court and Chattogram Bar associations, I am not required to seek authorisation from local lawyers to represent him.”  

The Chittagong court had originally scheduled the bail hearing for December 3, 2024. However, the date was deferred to January 2 after the prosecution sought additional time, and no defence lawyer was present for Chinmoy.  

The sedition case against Chinmoy stems from accusations that he hoisted a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25. His arrest on November 25 triggered widespread protests, with tensions escalating into violent clashes on November 27 outside the Chattogram Court Building.

The unrest resulted in the death of a lawyer and subsequent arrests further fueled the crisis.

ISKCON Kolkata alleged that the situation worsened when two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, were detained on November 29 after visiting Chinmoy Das in custody. According to Radha Raman, vice-president of ISKCON Kolkata, an ISKCON centre in Bangladesh was vandalised during the unrest.  

The escalating tension also drew India’s attention. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concerns about the rising violence and extremist rhetoric in Bangladesh, stressing the need to consistently engage with Dhaka regarding the safety of religious minorities.  

Adding to the discourse, former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri, addressed Chinmoy Krishna Das’s situation in an open letter published in December 2024. Sikri cited an eight-point demand presented by Chinmoy Das and his colleagues from the Sanatani Jagran Jote, advocating for stronger protections for Bangladesh’s religious minorities.

The proposals include enacting a minority protection law, establishing a dedicated ministry and special tribunal for cases of minority persecution, and improving enforcement of laws aimed at safeguarding minority rights and properties.