Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) Chairman and former lawmaker from Pirojpur-2 constituency Anwar Hossain Manju, who was arrested earlier today, has been released due to his sickness.

He was granted bail as per the Code of Criminal Procedure 497 on ground of illness by the Officer-in-Charge of New Market police station, said a senior police official requesting anonymity.

According to CrPC 497, (1) When any person accused of any non-bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by an officer in charge of a police-station, or appears or is brought before a Court, he may be released on bail, but he shall not be so released if there appear reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or transportation for life:

Provided that the Court may direct that any person under the age of sixteen years or any woman or any sick or infirm person accused of such an offence be released on bail.

(2) If it appears to such officer or Court at any stage of the investigation, inquiry or trial, as the case may be, that there are not reasonable grounds for believing that the accused has committed a non-bailable offence, but that there are sufficient grounds for further inquiry into his guilt, the accused shall, pending such inquiry, be released on bail, or, at the discretion of such officer or Court, on the execution by him of a bond without sureties for his appearance as hereinafter provided.

(3) An officer or a Court releasing any person on bail under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall record in writing his or its reasons for so doing.

A team of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested him around 2:45 pm from Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area.

He has been accused in at least five cases including a case filed in New Market police station, Rabiul Islam, Joint commissioner of DMP (DB) confirmed.