Alleged illegal arrest of a Lawyer: SC grants leave to proceed with FR petition

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed with a  Fundamental Rights petition filed by a lawyer who sought a declaration  that his arrest by CID was illegal and in violation of his fundamental  rights.  

Supreme Court two-judge-bench comprising Justices Priyantha  Jayawardhana and Justice Vijith Malalgoda granted leave to proceed in  terms of Articles 12(1) and 13(1).  

The petitioner Roshan Dehiwala, an Attorney-at-Law by  profession filed this petition naming IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, DIG  Prasad Ranasinghe, OIC Induka De Silva, Woman SI Seneviratne, Sergeant  Thusitha and Attorney General as respondents.  

The petitioner stated that he has an extensive practice in  Magistrate’s Courts and High Courts and had appeared on behalf of former  IGP Pujith Jayasundera in the trial relating to his alleged involvement  in the Easter Sunday Attacks.  

The petitioner stated that on October 25, 2022, he along  with his wife went to the Horana town to purchase some books for their  children. The petitioner said he dropped his wife at the bookshop and  parked the car in front of a bank. He said whilst he was waiting for his  wife, three police officers in civvies surrounded his car and  requested him to accompany them to the CID.