Journalist Kajol gets bail in both cases against him under Digital Security Act

The High Court today granted bail to photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol in two separate cases filed under the Digital Security Act.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman granted bail to Kajol following two separate petitions filed by him seeking bail in the cases lodged with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations.

Kajol's lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua told The Daily Star that there is no legal bar for his client to get released from jail following the HC verdict.

Read more: Journo Kajol Probe: HC unhappy with cyber tribunal, IO over delays

The HC bench granted bail to Kajol in the cases as the investigation officer did not take permission from the Cyber Tribunal to probe the cases after 75 days of filing them.

The court said it will give a directive to the inspector general to take necessary steps to train the investigation officers about the provisions of the laws and the rules for investigation of relevant cases.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim said Kajol can question the jurisdiction of the investigation officer for continuing the probe into the cases.

Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi told the court that the investigation officer did not take permission from the Cyber Tribunal as he might be unaware of the provision of the law.

Investigation officer Md Russell Mollah is a new police officer, he added.

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua today told the HC that Kajol, who is a renowned photojournalist, has been languishing in jail for a long period of time, but the investigation officer is continuing probe in violation of the provision of the law.

The accused petitioner has right to life under the constitution and therefore, he might be granted bail in the cases.

DAG Sarwar Hossain Bappi, who represented the state, could not be reached instantly over cell phone for his comment on whether the government will move any appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, challenging the HC verdict that granted bail to Kajol.

On November 24, the same HC bench granted bail to Shafiqul Islam Kajol in one of the two cases.