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DHAKA, Aug 9, 2025 (BSS) - The High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Sunday in the appeal filed by three convicted policemen challenging a lower court judgment that sentenced them to life imprisonment over the custodial death of car driver Ishtiaq Hossain Jony in 2014.
 
A division bench of the HC comprising Justice S M Kuddus Zaman and Justice A. K. M. Rabiul Hassan fixed the date for delivering the verdict after hearing the appeals of the accused. 
 
Earlier on September 9, 2020, Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka sentenced three policemen, including a sub-inspector, to life imprisonment in the case over custodial death of Jony under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013. 
 
The punishments of the fugitives will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender. 
 
The life term sentenced convicts are: Pallabi Thana's then Sub-inspector Jahidur Rahman, former assistant sub-inspectors Qamruzzaman Mintu and Rashedul Hasan. 
 
Of them, Jahid and Rashed are now in jail while Mintu is on the run.
 
Earlier, the court recorded statements of 23 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case.
 
According to the case statement, a group of 25-26 policemen, including SI Jahid, raided a house during a wedding ceremony in Pallabi's Irani camp area and arrested Jonny on February 8, 2014.
 
Informer Sumon and two of his friends including Russell called police after Jonny slapped him for harassing women at a programme.
 
Police allegedly tortured Jonny at the police station.
 
After Jonny fell sick the next day, he was admitted to a local clinic. Later, he was transferred to Suhrawardy Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
 
On August 8, 2014, the victim's younger brother, Imtiaz Hossain Rocky, filed the case with the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka.
 
On February 17, 2015, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate SM Ashikur Rahman conducted a judicial inquiry, found involvement of Jahid and the other four with the death and submitted a judicial inquiry report to the court.
 
The court framed charges against the five on April 17, 2016.