The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has taken custody of expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat after receiving the nod to investigate the two cases filed under the narcotics and firearms legislation.

 “Samrat has been taken to the RAB-1 offices after the Detective Branch handed over him,” Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, senior assistant director of RAB media wing, said on Thursday (Oct 17).

The elite police force received the documents clearing it two investigate the cases late on Wednesday, he added.

On Oct 6, RAB arrested Samrat, and his accomplice Arman, from Cumilla, over their alleged involvement in illicit casino operations.

RAB Executive Magistrate SarwoerAlam sentenced Samrat, under the Wildlife (preservation and security) Act, to six months in prison for keeping two kangaroo hides in his possession.

The same day, he was sent to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, while RAB filed the cases against him with Ramna police station.

On Oct 7, Ramna police station Officer-In-Charge (OC) MdMafuzulHaque, also the investigation officer (IO) in the narcotics case, and OC (investigation) JahirulHaque and IO of the arms case, appealed to a Dhaka court to remand Samrat for 10 days each in the two cases.

The court was unable to pass any order as the former Jubo League leader fell sick.

On Oct 8, Samrat was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) by the jail authorities, after he complained of chest pain.

Later, he was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), from where he was discharged on Oct 12.

On Tuesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court remanded Samrat for 10 days in the two cases and was kept in Detective Branch's (DB) custody.