SC upholds Mainul Hosein’s bail in 14 defamation cases

The Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court order that granted bail to Barrister Mainul Hosein in 14 defamation cases filed for verbally abusing journalist Masuda Bhatti on air.

Chamber Judge Md Nuruzzaman issued “No Order” after hearing an appeal filed by the state seeking stay on Mainul’s bail, reported UNB.

With this order, Mainul will be able to get bail in the cases filed in Sherpur, Kurigram, Bhola, Jhenaidah, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Cox's Bazar, Magura, Narail, Chittagong, Jessore and Netrakona districts, his counsel Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain said.

On Sunday, the High Court granted six months’ bail to the former caretaker government adviser in 14 defamation cases.

His counsel Mahbub said some 23 cases – one of them filed under the Digital Security Act, and the rest defamation cases – were filed against him for verbally abusing Masuda Bhatti during a live television talk show on Ekattor TV, titled “Ekattor Journal,” on October 16.

During the talk show, Masuda Bhatti asked Mainul: “You say that you are in Jatiya Oikya Front as a citizen of the country, but in social networking sites, many people are saying that you are there as a representative of Jamaat.”

In retaliation, Mainul called said: “I thank you for your audacity... I believe you are a characterless woman. There is no question about Jamaat link's with me; the question you have raised here is insulting for me.”