FR petition filed by Rishad Bathiudeen SC postpones inquiry for August 7

• One of the judges informed that he personally knows the petitioner and wanted to step down from inquiring the petition 

By T. Farook Thajudeen  

The Supreme Court yesterday postponed for August 7 the inquiry into the Fundamental Rights Application filed by Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen over his imminent arrest or imminent illegal detention by the CID. 

  The inquiry into the application by the three Judges Priyantha Jayawardena , L.T.D. Dehideniya and Yasantha Kodagoda was postponed when one of the judges informed that he personally knows the petitioner and wanted to step down from inquiring the petition.   
Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had filed this application in the Supreme Court citing Special Investigation Unit OIC of CID Ravindra Wimalasiri. CID OIC Mihindu Abeysekera, its Director Prasanna Alwis, DIG Nuwan Wedasinghe, Acting IGP C.D.Wickramasinghe and the Attorney General as respondents for the petition.   
The petitioner had filed this application in the Supreme Court in respect of the imminent illegal arrest and /or imminent illegal detention of the petitioner which constitute a violation of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed to the petitioner by the Constitution.   

The petitioner pleads for an interim order restraining the respondents from arresting the petitioner on an allegation of having committed any offence relating to the bombing that took place on Easter Sunday or any other terrorist activity until the final determination of the case.   

President Counsel Faiz Musthapa instructed by Gowrie Sangari Thavarasha appeared for Rishad Bathiudeen and State Counsel Kaniska de Silva Balapatabendi appeared for the Attorney General.