The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily stayed a High Court order granting six months’ bail to actress and former e-CAB president Shomi Kaiser.
The case pertains to allegations of Shomi’s alleged instigation and financing to the Awami League leaders and activists and law enforcers for attacking and shooting of demonstrators during the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement in Uttara in July.
The Appellate Division also stayed a High Court’s December 10 order that granted ad-interim bail to former state minister for civil aviation Md Mahbub Ali in a murder case.
The case was filed against 113 high-profile AL leaders including Mahbub over the death of hotel staff Siam Sarder, 17, in Dhaka’s Mirpur area during the quota reform movement on July 18.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division, issued the stay orders after hearing the state’s pleas to stay the High Court’s decision.
The matters have been scheduled for an Appellate Division full bench hearing on January 6, 2024.
The High Court bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain had on December 10 granted Shomi interim bail, overturning a lower court’s denial.
According to the prosecution, the rally, organised by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was intercepted near Azampur Nawab Habibullah High School in Uttara on July 18.
The then ruling party activists, including armed cadres, allegedly opened fire indiscriminately on the protesters, critically injuring businessman Ishtiak Mahmud and several others.
Ishtiak was hit in the abdomen and required emergency surgery at Evercare Hospital.
He later filed a case on September 29 with Uttara East Police Station, accusing 126 individuals, including former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Shomi Kaiser, and Gaan Bangla television chairman Kaushik Hossain Taposh.
Shomi is listed as the 24th accused in the case.
Shomi’s counsel, senior lawyer Ahsanul Karim, argued that the allegations against her were baseless.
‘The First Information Report contained no specific claim of her financing or directing the attack,’ Ahsan stated during the hearing.
Shomi was arrested on November 6 at a house in the capital’s Uttara.
