EC writes to IGP to defer CID probe against Rishad until polls concluded

The Election Commission (EC) wrote to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) last week urging him to defer ongoing fresh CID probe on former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen over Easter Sunday attacks until the elections are over by August 10.

The three-member commission, after having considered the complaint lodged by Mr Bathiudeen alleging that CID has repeadtedly asked him to appear before police disrupting his election campaign activities, decided unanimously to urge the acting IGP to defer the probe against the former minister.

In his complaint to Election Commission, Mr Bathiudeen alleged that he had already given evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee on matters related to Easter Sunday attacks and its final report declared that the investigations carried out by them "did not reveal any connection of Mr Rishad Bathiudeen either with the attack that took place on 21/4/2019 or with any terrorist activities,"

"The Commission also states that whenever similar inquiries prevented candidates holding high office in a political party were disrupted during the elections because of ongoing police inquiries, we (EC) made similar requests to defer inquiries, which requests were respected by the police. We have always been grateful for that to the police," letter signed by three commissioners said.