The High Court today granted bail to former ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, known as Chinmoy Krishna Das, in a sedition case.

The bench of Justice Md Atoar Rahman and Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order after holding hearing on a bail petition filed by Chinmoy.

He is expected to be released from the jail following the HC order, unless the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stays the HC verdict, Advocate Prahlad Debnath, a lawyer for Chinmoy, told The Daily Star.

On April 23, Chinmoy's lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee prayed to the HC bench to grant bail to his client, saying that Chinmoy is ill and suffering in jail without trial.

The HC did not grant bail to him then, saying it would deliver verdict after the hearing today.

On October 31 last year, Firoz Khan, former general secretary of Chattogram's Mohora ward BNP, filed the case with Kotwali Police Station, accusing Chinmoy and 18 others of disrespecting the national flag during a rally on October 25 in the port city's New Market area.

On November 26, a Chattogram court sent Chinmoy to jail, rejecting his bail prayer after he was arrested in the capital the previous day.

On December 11 last year, the same court rejected his bail petition in the same case.