Only 11 days ago, on March 22, another case against him, for robbing at gunpoint bidding documents for auction of a bankrupt company's property, was retracted.

But, after arresting Pintu on December 26, 2001 for auction document snatching, the newly installed coalition government categorically declared it would not spare any criminal, no matter which party he belonged to.

COP ASSAULT CASE
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Zahangir Alam dismissed the case yesterday, more than one year after a home ministry letter had conveyed its wish to withdraw the case.

The ministry in a letter on March 18 last year informed the district magistrate of Dhaka that it had decided to take back the charges against Pintu and the 12 others, as those were 'politically motivated'.

The ministry asked the district magistrate to hand over the affair to the district public prosecutor (PP), who would arrange withdrawal of the case with permission of an appropriate court.

PP Abdullah Mahmud Hassan then submitted a petition to the chief metropolitan magistrate along with a photocopy of the home ministry's missive for revoking the charges against Pintu.

Pintu has been on bail. The 12 other accusees have been on the run since getting bail in 1998.

In the case filed with Lalbagh Police Station, Sub-Inspector (SI) Mohammad Salauddin said, at about 9:30am on April 15, 1998, Pintu led out a procession in support of hartal called by the then opposition BNP. The BNP procession came face to face with that of the then ruling AL at Baby Ice Cream crossing in Lalbagh.

The SI said Pintu and his group swooped on AL leaders and activists in the procession, as well as the policemen who came to intervene, injuring a number of AL men and police including the complainant.

Police arrested Pintu and the 12 men from the spot and filed the case against them the same day. Later, all the accusees obtained bail from court.

A senior lawyer, on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star yesterday he wonders how the charges could be labelled 'politically motivated'. "It's nothing but a bid to save the lawmaker from a judicial trial," he added.

Moreover, he questioned how the 12 accusees who are now absconding could be released from the case?

Masud Ahmed Talukder, a lawyer representing Pintu, on the other hand said the government decided to take back the charges after scrutinising the case documents and finding them to be false.

Besides, Talukder pointed out that Section 494 of the Criminal Procedure Code authorises the government to retract any case filed against any person.

BIDDING PAPER SNATCHING
Pintu was also arrested on December 26, 2001 on the charge of snatching at gunpoint some documents pertaining to the auction of a bankrupt company's property.

Advocate Jahangir Alam Khan filed the case with Motijheel Police Station accusing Pintu and a number of his accomplices.