Rishad files FR petition seeking prevention of arrest over Easter attacks

Former Minister and the leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen has filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court, seeking an order preventing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting him.

Officer in Charge of CID’ Special Investigation Unit Ravindra Wimalasiri, Officer in Charge of the CID, Director of the CID, Deputy Inspector General of the CID Nuwan Wedasinghe, Acting Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratna and the Attorney General have been named as the respondents of this petition.

The petitioner says he has been informed of an impending arrest by the CID over the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

The former minister further stressed that at no point in time had he involved in last year’s bombing incident adding that the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to probe the carnage too has concluded that no charges are laid against him with regard to the incident.

Accordingly, he sought the Supreme Court to issue an order stating that arresting him over alleged terrorist activities is a violation of his fundamental rights and a compensation of Rs. 50 million from the respondents.

In addition, he requests the highest judicial court to issue an interim order preventing the CID from arresting him until the hearing of the FR petition is concluded.