Shani files FR case to prevent possible arrest

By Chitra Weerarathne

Former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Shani Abeysekera, has filed a fundamental rights violation petition in the Supreme Court complaining that he could be unduly arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday bomb blasts of 21 April 2019.

He has said he was not aware that such a disaster was going to happen. He has requested the Court to grant leave to proceed with his petition and also to grant him interim relief by directing the authorities concerned not to take steps to arrest him until his petition was finally determined.

Among the respondents are the IGP, the Director of the CID and the Director of State Intelligence Service. The petitioner has said that on 21 April, 2019, Islamic terrorists exploded sbombs in several churches and tourist hotels killing more than 260 people. Around 500 others received injuries.