Guwahati: Senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Guwahati on Wednesday, March 26, as the hearing on his case continues.
The Assam Police have sought five-day custody, though legal experts argue that cases involving the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act typically fall under the jurisdiction of a special court, raising concerns about procedural irregularities and complicating Mazumdar’s chances of securing bail.
Mazumdar’s arrest came late Tuesday night, following his detention for questioning Dambaru Saikia, the Managing Director of Assam Cooperative Apex Bank, during a protest against alleged corruption. Despite the protest focusing on the bank’s recruitment practices, the charges against him—Sections 351(2)/3(1)(r) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015—are unrelated to the corruption allegations.
The arrest has sparked outrage among the journalistic community in Assam, with many viewing it as a direct assault on press freedom. Protests broke out outside the Guwahati Press Club, where journalists and media personnel demanded Mazumdar’s immediate release. Tensions escalated further as demonstrators clashed with police forces during the protest. Meanwhile, a large group of journalists gathered outside the CJM court, continuing their demonstration as the legal proceedings unfolded.
Reports indicate that Mazumdar was detained by Panbazar Police on Tuesday, March 25, after confronting the Apex Bank’s MD over the alleged multi-crore recruitment scam. He was initially summoned for questioning but remained in custody for 12 hours—from 11 AM to 11 PM—without being informed of the charges against him before his formal arrest.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case continues to draw sharp criticism from media watchdogs and civil rights organizations, who are demanding transparency and the protection of journalistic freedom in Assam.
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