Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Prasad Ranasinghe, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations of obstructing an investigation, was yesterday (10) granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Ranasinghe was taken into custody by CIABOC officers and produced in court.

After considering submissions made by Bribery Commission officers and counsel appearing for the suspect, the Magistrate ordered that he be released on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each.

The court also imposed an overseas travel ban on Ranasinghe and directed him to surrender his passport.

The arrest is linked to an ongoing probe into the alleged theft of a historically significant archaeological artefact known as the ‘Sandagala’. The artefact, weighing over 1,000 kilogrammes and bearing carvings said to be more than 300 years old, had been located near the entrance steps of the palace of King Weera Parakrama Narendrasinghe at the Udamaluwa Archaeological Site in Kundasale.

CIABOC alleges that Ranasinghe influenced and obstructed the investigation into the looting of the artefact while serving as DIG of the CID.

Investigations are continuing.