Why should copy of confessional statement not be given to accused?: HC wants to know

The High Court today wanted to know why the accused persons will not be provided with the copies of their confessional statements during investigations of cases.  

The court issued a rule asking the law and home secretaries to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to take necessary steps so that the accused persons are given the copies of their confessional statements made before the magistrates.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the rule following a petition filed by a Lipan Patwari, an accused of a murder case in Cumilla, seeking necessary directives to this effect.

Lipan's lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir told The Daily Star that a man named Nahidul Islam was killed on July 4 last year. Later, the accused Lipan gave confessional statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before the magistrate concerned.

Lipan sought a copy of his confessional statement from the lower court through filing an application, but it was rejected. He, therefore, filed the petition recently with the HC challenging the rejection order, said the lawyer.

During the hearing, Shishir informed the HC that a confessional statement, which is used against the accused, is a public document under the Evidence Act, and there is no legal bar for the accused to get its copy as the HC seeks such copies during hearing their bail petitions.