Former CID Chief files FR to prevent arrest

Former CID Chief Ravindra Bandara Senevirathne yesterday filled a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an Interim Order preventing him from being arrested  or detained in connection with a ‘B’ report filed in the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on charges including failing to properly investigate the Easter Sunday terror attacks Mastermind, Mohamed Qasim Mohamed Zaharan.

The petitions also call for an Interim Order preventing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from issuing detention orders as using his powers as Defence Minister under Section 9 (1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and he also sought an order quashing the B report No. 1411/2022 filed against him on February 10 in connection with an alleged false investigation report received on a petition received by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Defence.

Petitioner Ravi Seneviratne has also requested for an immediate release if he is arrested and for compensation of Rs. 100 million.

Criminal Investigation Department Assistant Superintendent of Police Meril Ranjan Lamahewa, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wicremarathne, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kamal Gunaratne, Attorney General and nine others were named as the respondents in the petition.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Defense received an anonymous petition last December alleging that he was responsible for the terrorist attack that took place on Easter Sunday and that a ‘B’ report had been prepared against him with arbitrary and untrue facts, alleging that investigations had been carried out on it and was produced before the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court on February 10, the petitioner said.

In this petition, Ravi Seneviratne has requested that his Fundamental Rights be violated as he may be arrested at any time on the basis of that report.