After a hearing, Magistrate Emdadul Haq took the case into cognizance and issued a warrant of arrest for Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, proprietor of MS Press at Sutrapur.

In his complaint, Prof Azad said the Agami Publisher published his novel last year and it became instant best-seller. But few months later, some scrupulous businessmen pirated his novel, which caused a great loss to the writer and the publisher.

The writer also said when his publisher Osman Gani found out that the MS Press was printing his book illegally, he made an attempt to hand over its owner Iqbal Hossain to the police.

But Iqbal then assured the Agami of not copying the book any longer and promised to pay Tk one lakh to the writer in compensation and gave an affidavit on a non-judicial stamp, Azad said in his complaint.

At the same time, Iqbal also issued three cheques for the same amount, but the cheques were dishonoured by the bank, he added.

Later, Prof Azad issued a legal notice on Iqbal who refused to pay the money, the complainant alleged.

Advocate Ayet Ali Patwary appeared on behalf of the writer.