The case of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das has once again drawn attention after an emotional video of him in a temple went viral on social media. The video shows the monk in tears, holding on to the feet of a Radha-Krishna idol as he was being taken back to jail.
Chinmoy has been in custody in Bangladesh for more than two years and continues to face legal proceedings in several cases. His lawyer says repeated attempts to secure bail have so far been unsuccessful.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chinmoy’s lawyer, Advocate Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee, said the monk regularly calls him from jail. According to the lawyer, Chinmoy became emotional while talking about the recent death of his mother and asked who would look after him now.
“He was crying… He is broken down,” the lawyer said, describing Chinmoy’s emotional state after his mother’s death.
Concerns Over His Health
Chinmoy’s lawyer has also raised concerns about his health, claiming that his condition has deteriorated during his time in custody. He alleged that Chinmoy has serious liver-related health problems and has not received proper treatment in jail for nearly two years.
Chinmoy’s 70-year-old mother, Sandhya Rani Dhar, died on September 10. His family had reportedly sought parole while she was ill, but the request was not granted. After her death, he was given five hours of parole by the Chattogram District Deputy Commissioner to attend her final rites.
He was later taken back into custody.
Six Cases Against the Monk
According to his lawyer, Chinmoy Krishna Das is facing six cases. He has already received bail in four of them, involving allegations related to arson, illegal gatherings and other activities.
The two remaining cases concern sedition and murder.
Chinmoy was arrested on November 25, 2024, at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He was subsequently charged with sedition following allegations linked to a rally in Chattogram.
After a court rejected his bail plea in November 2024, clashes broke out in Chattogram, during which government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif was killed. Chinmoy was later named in a case connected to the killing.
In April 2025, the Dhaka High Court granted him bail in the sedition case, but the Bangladesh Supreme Court later stayed the order.
A chargesheet has been filed in the murder case, which is being heard by a Divisional Speedy Tribunal, according to his lawyer. The defence has also approached the Dhaka High Court seeking to have the case dismissed, but the petition has yet to be heard.
Renewed Calls for His Release
Chinmoy’s arrest has drawn reactions from human-rights activists and Hindu organisations, including calls for his release. Political figures in India have also spoken publicly about his detention.
The recent video showing the monk in tears after briefly leaving jail for his mother’s funeral has once again brought his situation into the spotlight.
His lawyer said the defence intended to seek bail again on September 17, citing his health condition.
The case has also become part of a wider discussion about the security of religious minorities, access to legal protection and the judicial process in Bangladesh. Since the cases against Chinmoy remain before the courts, the allegations and legal claims should be understood alongside the ongoing judicial proceedings and responses from the relevant authorities.
