Maruf Nizam, one of the suspected masterminds behind the sensational abduction of business magnate Jamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, wrongly appeared before a Chittagong court yesterday to surrender and seek bail.

Maruf appeared before the court of District Sessions Judge Abdur Rahman Patwary instead of the court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge AKM Anwar Hossain as the abduction case was filed with the Chandgaon Police Station of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, sources said. Earlier, a High Court (HC) bench asked Maruf to appear before the sessions judge's court in Chittagong as he sought bail on October 24.

However, the HC order did not specify which court--district or metropolitan sessions judge--he should surrender to, sources said.

Judge Abdur Rahman asked Maruf's lawyers to bring a revised HC order and appear before the correct court by December 1 as Public Prosecutor Kafiluddin Chowdhury informed the judge that the matter was the jurisdiction of the metropolitan sessions judge's court and not his.

The judge also ordered the police not to arrest or harass Maruf during the period, sources said.

Maruf arrived at the court in the Pajero jeep of his brother ruling BNP lawmaker Sarwar Jamal Nizam.

Later, sensing the presence of reporters and photographers, Maruf left the court premises secretly by another vehicle at around 1:30pm.

When contacted over telephone, Sarwar told The Daily Star that the Pajero was his private vehicle and that his family members have the right to use it.

“My son was actually using the jeep at the time and he went to the court to discuss the case with the lawyers,” he said, adding, “I don't see any problem if my brother was using the vehicle too.”